Persons With Disabilities in Lugari Sub-County who have benefitted from the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) should not sell trade tools and assistance devices given to them.
Professor Julia Ojiambo, Chair National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya, while addressing the disabled who qualified to receive an assortment of trade tools and assistive devices at the Deputy County Commissioner’s office, told the bonafide members to use the tools for the intended purpose.
Ojiambo regretted that certain disabled persons upon receiving aid tools sold them to get quick cash instead of using them to change their lives.
According to her, the equipment aid from the National Fund for the Disables was delivered to the successful persons after approval of their applications.
Professor Ojiambo disclosed that the government has for the last 40 years committed itself to ensuring that persons with disability live better lives through funding of their business initiatives and the provision of mobility assistance devices.
“Aid to improve lives for the disabled has been in existence for the last 40 years and we thank our past and current governments for ensuring that the disabled lead decent lives,” Professor Ojiambo said.
Ojiambo revealed that the government through its administrative organs is ensuring no disabled child or adult person is denied benefits from the National Fund for the Disabled.
“Government will employ all means to identify persons with disability hidden in villages so that their right to decent living is upheld,” Odhiambo said.
Professor Ojiambo was displeased with reports that some homes in villages were hiding disabled in their homes instead of registering them for government aid at National Government Adminstration Offices (NGAO) from the County Commissioner’s office cascading to lower administrative units up to the chief and sub-chief.
Professor Ojiambo, however, noted that those who had applied for trade tools assistance and are not successful should be patient and apply again next time.
Further, she noted that disability membership card application forms were available at social protection offices saying it was important for disabled persons to possess disability identification cards so that they can enjoy a variety of privileges provided by the government and during social gatherings.
Moses Gicharu, Lugari Deputy Commissioner speaking at the same event, thanked NFDK for ensuring the disabled in rural villages receive direct government assistance.
Gicharu however, reiterated that the tools and assistive devices should reach the intended target persons and serve the intended purpose.
The DCC noted that his office will be monitoring those who benefited from the trade tools and assistive devices to determine whether it benefits them or not.
Trade tools and assistive devices close to sh500,000 were distributed to 19 beneficiaries drawn from Lugari Sub-County.
Also present during the distribution exercise included, Rhoda Ambira NFDK Programme Manager, Assistant County Commissioner Evans Otieno, Sub County Social Protection Officer Fredrick Okoth, and other heads of departments.
By Geoffrey Satia
