The National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya on Wednesday given equipment worth Sh.400, 000 to nineteen persons living with disability in Narok North Sub County in a bid to improve their livelihood.
Speaking when giving the equipment at Narok Youth Centre, the Narok North Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Mutuku Mwega said the beneficiaries would use the equipment given to start small businesses.
“We have given salon and barber kits, sewing machines, wheel chairs, goats and wielding machine depending on the talent of the beneficiaries. We expect them to use these tools to boost their income,” he said.
The DCC cautioned the beneficiaries against selling their equipment, saying they would carry out regular monitoring to ensure they were using them as expected.
“We will carry out regular monitoring on the businesses began so as to ensure the projects began expand,” he said.
He challenged persons with disability to ensure they were registered so as to enjoy benefits given by the government saying only those registered were eligible for the funds.
According to the records with National Council for Persons with Disability (NCPWD) Narok branch, only 7, 000 persons with disability were registered adding this is a very small number compared to the situation on the ground.
“World Health Organization (WHO) reports shows ten percent of every population consists of disabled persons,” he added.
Isaac Aria from National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya asked the community to shun the culture of hiding the physically challenged, since they too have the potential of performing what any other person could do.
He said his organization works with the local leaders to identify persons living with disability who were most vulnerable to help them live a decent life.
Ms. Juliana Kicha, whose son benefited with a wheel chair was all praises to the organization, saying the wheel chair would help in the mobility of her 22-year son who suffers from Cerebral Palsy.
“I have been carrying my son on the back for the last 22 years. I feel good today that he will be moving on a wheel chair,” said Ms. Kicha.
By Ann Salaton
