More than 3,000 Persons living With Disabilities (PWDs) in the North Rift region are set to benefit from the governments Sh.200 million set aside to cushion the disabled from the effects of Covid-19.
The North Rift National Council for Persons with Disabilities Coordinator, Leonard Dawafula said at least 100 persons from every constituency will benefit from the funds.
Speaking while launching the fund in Eldoret, Dawafula said all the seven counties from the region, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo, Turkana, Trans-Nzioa, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet will receive an allocation to support the PWDs in their respective constituencies.
Dawafula said the Council has been working with all stakeholders to identify genuine beneficiaries for the fund adding that his officers together with the stakeholders have already done mapping and identified those set to benefit. Each beneficiary will receive Sh. 2000 monthly stipend.
“A total of 3,229 PWD’s in the North Rift will receive the monthly stipend, the majority of them being those who lost their work or sources of income as a result of Covid-19,” said the coordinator.
“This fund is targeting people living with disabilities who lost their sources of income as a result of the corona virus, a maximum of 100 people from each constituency from the seven North Rift Counties will start benefiting from this fund from this month,” said Dawafula.
The fund is part of Sh.500 million set aside by the government to cushion PWDs nationally, already Sh. 300m has been spent, the Sh. 200m balance is meant to support those who did not benefit from the first phase of the allocation, he explained.
“This money is part of Sh.500 million set aside by President Uhuru Kenyatta to cushion disabled, we have a balance of Sh.200 million. In this region, we are targeting 3,229 people, each beneficiary will get Sh.2,000 monthly for the next three months as we monitor the situation,” said Dawafula.
Targeted beneficiaries asked the council to ensure transparency in order to reach genuine PWDs with Pius Asuke, chairman of persons with disability in Eldoret asking the council to work with his association to ensure that all genuine and needy cases benefit from the fund.
“This money is purely for disabled persons and we expect the council to work with us as disabled people to help identify our brothers and sisters who deserve to benefit,” said Asuke.
Martin Omondi and Martha Wanjiku both traders with disabilities in Eldoret town echoed Asuke’s sentiments, saying the council should work with local administrators to identify genuine beneficiaries.
By Kiptanui Cherono
