The disability stakeholders in Laikipia County have sent a stern warning to crooked individuals against misusing the vulnerable groups to solicit funds from members of the public.
Sang’ida disability foundation Director Ms Jacinta Silakan said that people with disabilities (PWDs) were being used to do illegal businesses of begging for money from the public.
Sangi’da is a disability community-based organization in Laikipia County.
“Today we are gathered with organizations for PWDs from Laikipia to train them on safeguarding themselves from impostors and the reason why we had this training especially at this time is because we have a number of PWDs ferried from other parts of the country and used to beg money which is not used by them,” said Silakan.
Silakan who was speaking during a PWDs safeguarding training at a Nanyuki hotel on Wednesday, said whoever is found culpable, legal action would be taken against them.
“The cartels, whenever they use the PWDs, you don’t see them. Through the safeguarding process, they will be held accountable because this is not right to use vulnerable people for their own selfish gain,” added the director.
United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK) Program Manager Ms Esther Mkamori, one of facilitators said that their aim was to equip disability-oriented organizations and other stakeholders on how to uphold the rights of the vulnerable groups.
“As a network working with PWDs in vulnerable situations it is key for them to understand the safeguarding risks that can arise from their operations for instance, harm to their beneficiaries (PWDs),” noted Mkamori.
She urged the disability organizations to develop safeguarding guidelines aimed at ensuring they promote human dignity for their targeted people.
“Being the national umbrella for persons with disabilities in the country, we work with our members at the grassroots level. It’s important for us to sensitise, help formulate policies and domesticate the organizations in what they do,” said Mkamori.
On his part, National Council for Persons with Disability (NCPWD), Laikipia County disability officer Dennis Kimathi said they will conduct an investigation and nab those found using PWDs to beg for money.
Participants were also trained on governance and accountability.
By Muturi Mwangi
