CS Oparanya Reaffirms Youth Empowerment and Cooperative Growth in Teso North
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Hon FCPA Dr Wycliffe Oparanya addresses youth during the Teso North Youth Conference at Chemasiri Technical and Vocational College in Busia County.
The Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon FCPA Dr Wycliffe Oparanya, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to inclusive and bottom up development by placing youth empowerment and cooperative growth at the centre of Kenya’s economic transformation agenda.
Speaking during the Teso North Youth Conference held at Chemasiri Technical and Vocational College in Busia County, CS Oparanya urged young people to intentionally build strong and sustainable economic foundations through entrepreneurship, skills development and collective enterprise. He assured the youth of Teso North of sustained Government support aimed at growing MSMEs and revitalising the cooperative movement across Busia County.
The Cabinet Secretary noted that empowering young people is critical to achieving national development goals, adding that the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development continues to roll out targeted programmes designed to unlock youth potential while expanding access to affordable capital, markets and capacity building.
CS Oparanya highlighted key empowerment initiatives under the Ministry, including the Hustler Fund, Uwezo Fund and Kenya Industrial Estates, which support enterprise growth and value addition. He also cited enterprise development support provided through the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority and skills enhancement programmes under the Kenya Jobs Economic Transformation Project.
He said the initiatives are structured to ensure that young people transition from job seekers to job creators, enabling them to establish sustainable businesses that contribute to economic growth and employment creation.
The Cabinet Secretary further emphasized the role of cooperatives as a powerful vehicle for wealth creation, job generation and economic resilience. He noted that cooperatives allow young entrepreneurs to pool resources, access affordable financing and penetrate markets, thereby strengthening their ability to scale enterprises sustainably.
According to CS Oparanya, strengthening the cooperative movement remains a key pillar of the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda, particularly in rural and semi urban areas where collective enterprise can drive inclusive growth.
The Principal Secretary for the State Department for MSMEs Development, Ms Susan Mang’eni, reiterated the Government’s resolve to equip young people with relevant and market driven skills to enable them to become economically productive and self reliant.
She pointed out that major infrastructure and industrial developments planned for the region present significant opportunities for the youth of Teso North. These include the upcoming Nasewa Special Economic Zone, the proposed extension of the Standard Gauge Railway to Malaba and the construction of a dry port.
Ms Mang’eni urged young people to prepare themselves to seize these opportunities by acquiring technical skills, embracing innovation and positioning themselves strategically within emerging value chains. She added that the State Department will continue working with training institutions, development partners and county governments to align skills development with labour market needs.
The Member of Parliament for Teso North Constituency, Hon Oku Kaunya, called for enhanced support for MSMEs, particularly in industrialisation and manufacturing. He emphasized the need to commercialise coffee and cotton production, noting that the two crops are critical inputs for the coffee and textile value chains.
Hon Kaunya said promoting value addition in agriculture and manufacturing would increase incomes for farmers while creating employment opportunities for young people. He urged continued investment in processing facilities and supportive infrastructure to unlock the constituency’s economic potential.
The Teso North Youth Conference brought together youth from across the constituency to engage with government leaders, gain insights into national empowerment programmes and explore pathways for meaningful participation in Kenya’s growing economy.
Participants were encouraged to take advantage of existing government initiatives, form cooperatives and pursue skills development aligned to emerging economic opportunities. The forum also provided a platform for dialogue on challenges facing young entrepreneurs and possible solutions.
The conference reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to placing youth at the centre of development planning and implementation as Kenya advances the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
