Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWD) in Nyamira County have benefitted from trade tools to enable them improve their livelihood by engaging in small businesses courtesy of National Fund for the Disabled in Kenya (NFDK).
Officiating during the disbursement of the equipment in a ceremony held at Jamuhuri Gardens in Nyamira County, Nyamira South Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Julius Otieno, challenged care givers of people living with disability to ensure they take good care of the trade tools so that the purpose of improving their livelihood is achieved.
“The trade tools are geared towards alleviating poverty levels of People Living with Disability who in most instances are neglected by the community yet if supported and facilitated they can be able to earn and sustain their daily living the reason for the programme.” Mr. Otieno explained.
“Our Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs must mobilize Persons Living with Disability in their Sub-locations and locations, give them the forms to fill which are issued free of charge so that as many people with physical challenges as possible can benefit from this programme,” The DCC directed.
Mr. Amos Getei. an officer from NFDK in charge of the distribution of the vocational skill trade tool advised persons living with disability present to guard against unscrupulous people who will entice them sell their trade tools at a throw away price leaving them under the sorry state that government is investing to alleviate them from.
“Don’t allow people to entice you sell the trade tools to them because they are meant to enable you earn your daily living without necessarily waiting for someone to provide for because making use of the tools to engage in small businesses will economically empower you thus make you self-reliant,” Mr. Getei warned.
“Today, we are giving out trade tools to 30 persons living with disability in Nyamira South Sub-county which include: Carpentry tools, hair saloon kits, barber kits, sewing machines and wheel chairs to those who applied and qualified,” the NFDK Officer listed.
Ms. Lydia Matende, County Director for National Council for Persons with Disability (NCPWD), advised the beneficiaries to start thinking on how to be self-reliant by engaging in micro businesses and in that support their care-givers who make tireless efforts to ensure that all their basic needs are met.
Ms. Teresa Siro, a caregiver to one of the beneficiaries of the trade tool, thanked NFDK and government in general for their generosity and support to their disabled children who will be engaged meaningfully because they already have skill all they need is guidance and how to use the tools and simple skills on how to handle money than they can also feel acceptable in the family and community at large.
Ms. Siro further appealed to government to reach out to many other persons living with disability and are capable of engaging themselves meaningfully within the community instead of sitting idle yet they can participate in a simple activity to earn a daily living.
By Deborah Bochere and Zachary Makori
