Kakamega County Women Representative Elsie Muhanda has urged residents to embrace a savings culture and invest in long-term financial stability through cooperatives, saying this is the surest path to economic empowerment and wealth creation.

Speaking during a community engagement forum in Kakamega, Muhanda emphasised the importance of discipline and consistency in building healthy saving habits, particularly among the youth.

“The best way to empower our people is by encouraging them to save. Building savings habits requires discipline and consistency. Invest in safer, long-term ventures such as SACCO deposits,” she said.

The woman rep stressed that financial success is rooted in patience and deliberate choices, encouraging young people to practise delayed gratification and use the available resources wisely.

“Jobs are scarce. Our youth must shift focus towards creating employment, rather than waiting for opportunities. Use loans productively and don’t spend on unnecessary things,” she advised.

Muhanda, who serves as the patron of the Kakamega County Maendeleo Sacco (KACOMA), highlighted the SACCO’s growing impact since its establishment in 2018.

The cooperative now boasts over 20,000 members and provides loans at reduced interest rates, making it an attractive option for small-scale entrepreneurs and first-time investors.

She said over 6,500 members have benefitted from KACOMA loans, with many channelling the funds into viable businesses across the county this year.

“This initiative is not about politics. It is about real, lasting empowerment. We want to see families grow, youth become financially independent, and our communities thrive,” she stated.

The Woman Representative encouraged more residents to join the SACCO, describing it as a dependable financial safety net and a key driver of local development.

Meanwhile, KACOMA Sacco continues to play a pivotal role in promoting financial literacy, supporting entrepreneurship and fostering a culture of savings in Kakamega County.