Monday, November 28, 2011

how to fight street crime

The lede from the Nairobi Star (via All Africa) says it all: "The informal sector is the best tool to fight crime and offer employment to the youth."

The other facet of the story that's interesting is that the Kenyan government is apparently offering low interest loans to informal firms through something called the Youth Fund -- at interest rates that are way better than the banks or microfinance groups. But "the funds are lying idle" --most likely because people are worried that the government will use the knowledge of their business to go after their assets.

Until May 2011, only youth groups could take advantage of the program. But now individual entrepreneurs can apply as well.

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