The Narok County Commissioner (CC), Samuel Kimiti has called upon people living with disabilities to come forward and be registered by the Ministry of Social Protection so they could benefit from various programmes and funds set aside for them.
Speaking at Ole Ntimama stadium in Narok on Tuesday during the celebration of the International Day of Disabled Persons, Kimiti cautioned residents against hiding people with disabilities saying it was a violations of their rights, adding that people with disabilities should be helped to lead a normal life.
In Maasai culture and other African communities, people living with disabilities are seen as a bad omen and a shame to the society hence they are hidden away.
Kimiti said that 347 people living with disabilities have been enrolled in the cash transfer subsidy programme in the county against a target of 600 and called on those who have not registered to do so, so that they could benefit from the programme which is administered by the Social Protection Ministry.
The CC observed that the government was keen to implement Affirmative Action in all its development agenda which required that people living with disabilities were also given recognition in employment, tendering process and other government activities and agenda.
He said stern action would be taken against those using disabled people to beg in the streets in Narok town. He added that many of the disabled people in Narok were being imported from other counties and neigbouring countries to benefit certain people.
The sentiments were echoed by the Narok County government representative of the disabled persons who is also former nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA), Ms. Violet Sikawa.
Also present was the County Executive Committee Member (CEC) in charge of Education, Youth, Gender, Culture and Social Services, Ms. Cecilia Wapuari.
According to a research conducted by the Kenya Demographic & Health Survey and the World Bank, ten percent of the populations in Kenya representing 4.44 million people are living with various forms of disability.
Out of the 10 percent, 26.2 percent representing 1.16 million of people with disability suffer from various forms of mobility (physical) impairment.
By Mabel Keya-Shikuku/Salim Maleto
