Wajir County government has disbursed Sh14 million Disability Cash Transfer for Persons living with Severe Disabilities (PWDs) in the County.
While presiding over the event, Wajir Governor Muktar Ahmed stated that the county government has started implementing the Cash Transfer Programme in the Financial Year 2014/15 with an initial 175 beneficiaries and since then, the County Government has disbursed Sh32 million.
He said last year, the government enrolled 87 more people bringing the total number of beneficiaries across the county to 262 with each receiving Sh4, 000 monthly stipend. This represents about 49 per cent increase in the programme coverage with the additional slots targeted fairly and equitably all over the county.
Muktar stated that the county government is committed to expanding opportunities for PWDs by not limiting to the cash transfers. He promised to include Affirmative Action in employment and procurement, provision of assistive devices for the physically disabled as well as to putting up an orthopedic workshop by the end of the year whose functions would be producing and repairing assistive and other supportive devices for the persons living with disability.
The governor confirmed that this year, the county has already disbursed the 14 million to beneficiaries account.
These group requested to be considered in leadership position as required by the Kenyan Constitution in article 54(2) which state that ‘State shall ensure the progressive implementation of the principle that at least five per cent of the members of the public in elective and appointive bodies are persons with disabilities’.
By Charles Matacho
