President Ruto on Women's Empowerment and Economic Initiatives

President Ruto Commends Women's Empowerment

• 👏 President William Ruto praised Mama Rachel Ruto and the Joywo organization for their significant efforts in empowering women across Kenya.
• 💡 He acknowledged that his own previous attempts to organize women's empowerment initiatives were less successful until Mama Rachel's involvement.
• 🚀 Joywo, which started small, has grown into a national movement spanning 44 counties and involving over 250,000 women.

Impact of Joywo and Hustler Fund

• 🌱 Through Joywo, many women have gained opportunities to build groups, access loans, and manage their businesses.
• 💰 These initiatives have enabled women to engage in farming, run businesses, and cover educational expenses for their children.
• 🔑 The Hustler Fund was directly inspired by Joywo's principles, emphasizing character as collateral and integrity as currency for loans.

Government Economic Initiatives

• 📊 The Hustler Fund currently serves two million Kenyans, offering loans up to KES 150,000 at an 8% interest rate without requiring traditional security.
• ✅ The fund ensures that no assets will be seized for loan defaults, allowing flexible repayment terms for borrowers.
• 🏗️ To support micro-enterprises, especially those run by "mama mboga" (women greengrocers), the government is constructing 400 new markets across Kenya.

Agricultural Support and Food Security

• 🌾 The government has significantly reduced fertilizer prices from KES 6,000 to KES 2,500 to boost agricultural productivity.
• 📈 This reduction has led to increased food production, which in turn has resulted in lower flour prices in the market.
• 👏 President Ruto specifically credited women farmers for their role in achieving greater food security and stabilizing prices.