Omanyo Empowers Teso North Residents to Support Their Hustles and Livelihoods

Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo has called for the economic empowerment of unemployed youth to prevent them from being exploited in political violence and instead channel their energy into productive activities.

Speaking during an empowerment programme in Changara, Chamasiri and Adumai in Teso North Constituency at the weekend, Omanyo said women and youth received business kits under the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) to support their livelihoods.

The beneficiaries included traders who received umbrellas to protect themselves and their goods from the sun and rain, while barbers, particularly young people, received shaving machines to boost their businesses.

“We issued umbrellas to our traders to shield themselves and their goods from the sun and rain, and distributed shaving machines to barbers, especially young people, to support their hustles and livelihoods,” Omanyo said.

She said meaningful economic opportunities were key to breaking the cycle of poverty and reducing youth vulnerability to political exploitation.

Omanyo, who is also the acting ODM Secretary General, said many young people labelled as political goons were unemployed, lacked skills and had struggled to find opportunities, making them vulnerable to recruitment into political confrontations in exchange for money or other forms of support.

She said the situation had contributed to a cycle of political violence, with politicians mobilising unemployed youths to confront opponents, while other leaders visiting the same areas sometimes recruited youths for protection.

According to Omanyo, such confrontations can result in young people being injured or killed while the politicians they are fighting to protect remain safe.

She said some youths who willingly put themselves at risk while protecting politicians could instead be trained and absorbed into national service and other productive employment opportunities.

Omanyo proposed that young people be given opportunities in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Youth Service (NYS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

She said youths without academic qualifications could be enrolled in technical training programmes to acquire skills in areas such as carpentry, tailoring and other trades, enabling them to become self-reliant.

“I will repeat again, I will defend young people who due to their vulnerability are being misled and used as goons because they are our children,” she said.

Omanyo urged politicians across the country to stop recruiting young people into political violence and instead support them to acquire skills, establish businesses and secure employment.

Meanwhile, residents commended the government and other stakeholders for recently completed roads that have improved connectivity in the area.

Among the roads highlighted were the Changara ACK Ateukut Church–Koitameri–Osia–Adumai Road, TVC Junction–Angaro–Chamasiri Market Road and Moding–Adumai Road.

Omanyo said continued investment in economic empowerment and infrastructure would help improve livelihoods and create opportunities for residents, particularly women and young people.