Scores of persons living with disabilities in Murang’a County have benefited with various equipment to assist them establish income generating projects.
The National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) Organization on Friday gave out assorted equipment worth Sh.2.5 million to 225 individuals drawn from different parts of the county.
Leading the exercise to distribute the equipment, NFDK Advocacy Officer, Ms. Tabitha Mihari said the organization was giving out equipment in accordance to what the beneficiaries applied for by the beginning of the financial year.
The equipment, she noted, would assist the persons living with disabilities to initiate projects which would help them earn income and become economically independent.
“We have been visiting different counties giving out equipment to persons with disabilities who have applied. The instruments ranging from those for farming, carpentry, welding, and masonry among others will help the beneficiaries embark into income generation projects,” added Mihari.
The organization, she observed that has also been sponsoring institutions dealing with persons with disabilities in effort to ensure they have needed infrastructure and special facilities.
The Fund, Mihari explained, supports institutions for and of persons with disabilities through cash grants to enable them improve the infrastructure and special facilities especially those that make the environment disability friendly as well as generate income.
“In this ending financial year, we have supported eight institutions from central region so as to have special facilities to support persons with disabilities,” she added.
Mihari warned those who got the equipment against selling them, saying they would be monitored to ensure the tools were utilized for their benefit.
“There are several cases where some beneficiaries sold out the provided equipment and as organization, we discourage this. NFDK is partnering with interior administrators to monitor the usage of the equipment,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the officer encouraged many people from counties to apply for the equipment so as to embark on economic activities.
She said the persons with disabilities had many opportunities to apply for cash support from National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) so as to get capital for their projects.
Speaking during the same occasion, Murang’a East Deputy County Commissioner, Kepher Marube encouraged persons with disabilities to take advantage of government’s initiatives tailored to boost their welfare.
He expressed concern over those hiding disabled children, saying such move would deny the affected children opportunity to get assistance.
By Bernard Munyao
