People living with disability (PWD) have been urged to be at the forefront in ensuring that they are enumerated during the National and Housing Census exercise which starts this week because in the past, some families have made the mistake of hiding them due to the fear of stigma.
The Chairman of PWDs in Nakuru County, Stephen Ogutu declared the 2019 ‘census as their golden opportunity’ to give the government accurate data unlike in the past when parents and relatives have conspired to hide them during such important events.
He said during the 2009 census, he witnessed a number of families in the county who were unwilling to confirm to the enumerators that such children existed in their families. He was speaking today during an interview with KNA at Kwa Rhonda slum in Nakuru Town.
However, he said with the payment of stipends for PWDs in the Inua Jamii program, he was encouraged and persuaded that very few families would make a mistake of denying the government such vital data.
He assured the enumerators in the county that they were willing to assist them during the crucial exercise, and he has already held a number of meetings with PWDs to create awareness on the advantage and benefits of the census for them.
Ogutu said during the awareness meetings, he has informed the PWDs that the census assists in determining the number of people who could pay taxes, their possible economic and even educational needs.
He commended the governments for the continued support which has made them feel wanted and accepted by society unlike in the past when they were treated like outcasts and a burden to their communities.
However, he appealed to the government to give them special considerations during the allocation of government-subsidized houses because ownership of a home was their immediate need when they become adults.
By Veronica Bosibori
