By TIMOTHY MBAYA

Youths are the leading defaulters after failed to repay loans issued to them in the County by the government.

Kuria East youth officer Nelson Siele while addressing the press at Kegonga said the repayment rate in Uwezo fund was low in the county and youth were the highest in defaulters.

Siele said the government had given out sh145,018,000 million in the county for the Uwezo fund that was aimed at enabling the youth, women and persons living with disability access finances to promote businesses and enterprises.

The youth officer said, despite the fund recording an absorption rate of 80% individuals had only repaid sh31,315,916 million translating to 22%.

He blamed the youth for being behind the low repayment adding that some of them had resorted to run and hide after using the money loaned to them.

“Many people have defaulted including women but if you follow closely, you find that most of them have been convinced by the youths not to repay,” said Siele.

The officer said there was about Sh62 million stuck in Uwezo fund accounts because of the low recovery rate in the county.

Siele however revealed that Kuria was leading in the repayment of the loan with Kuria West and Kuria East recording a recovery rate of 54% and 37% respectively. Awendo followed with a record 20%

But Siele said the recovery rate in Kuria was fair because they had resorted to use auctioneers to go after defaulters.

He urged individuals to be disciplined and repay their loans to enable others also benefit from the fund.

“This fund was meant to revolve so that many people benefit so don’t force us to come for you using auctioneers,” said the youth officer.

He also urged youths to avoid online loan apps which have high interest rates but instead utilize various funds made available by the government.

“There is this trend of young people borrowing aimlessly on online. Let us stop because those platforms are exploitative,” said Siele.

These include the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Women Enterprise Fund and National Affirmative Action fund.

“These funds are not meant for adults only but young people can organize also themselves and go for these funds too,” he said.

He added, “For instance we have young ladies who say mimi si mama in reference to women enterprise fund and then you are left wondering who is a woman.”

He said the government has a lot of opportunities and urged the youth to look for information to benefit from them.