The National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) is carrying out an economic empowerment and inclusion programme in Kiambu County.
About 94 people living with disabilities (PWDs) drawn from nine sub-counties in Kiambu County are set to receive donations of wheelchairs, welding kits, barber and salon kits, farming tools, carwash machines, and sewing machines, among other things, worth Sh 3,128,800 million.
The nine sub-counties are set to receive the supportive devices, including Limuru, Kikuyu, Githurai, Kiambu Town, Kiambaa, Ruiru, Juja, and Gatundu North and South.
NFDK is an endowment Fund mandated to enhance the social and economic empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in Kenya.
Speaking during the event held at the office of the Deputy County Commissioner in Kiambu sub-county, Tabitha Mihari, a representative of the Fund in charge of Advocacy, urged beneficiaries to be aware of their fundamental rights and privileges and challenge societal stereotypes in their quest for inclusion.
“The Fund exists to support PWDs with assistive devices and tools of trade towards their inclusion and economic empowerment; we also support institutions of learning for persons with disabilities with grants to meet learning needs; infrastructural development; and income generation,” Mihari said.
She further emphasized on the need for PWD’s to fill out forms for the NFDK available at the DCCs and Chiefs offices, which indicate the devices they require to be supplied with.
“All the items we are distributing today are as per the individual request when they filled out their forms; for the first time, we are going to give bank checks worth Sh20,000 to individuals who sought to have a goat instead of a device,” Mihari added
The Fund Assistant Manager, Isaac Aliyah, urged beneficiaries to utilise the support given in the right way and desist from the urge to sell for short gains.
“We have been keen to ensure that what we are giving you is efficient to start a business without any added expenses; for example, the salon kit we are giving includes a hair dryer, a mirror, and a blow-drying machine to ensure you don’t need to buy anything else; we have included up to the least tools like towels, rollers, and comps, etc.” Aliyah cited.
One million Kenyans living with disabilities are in dire need of assistive technology (AT), according to Richard Bosire, the Deputy Director, Social Development, at the Ministry of Labour, during the White Cane Day held in June this year at the Kabete Orthopaedic Grounds.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) observes that globally, more than 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive devices. And with an ageing global population and the increase in non-communicable diseases, an estimated 3.5 billion people will need assistive technology by 2050.
By Grace Naishoo
