The government will start giving Persons with disabilities (PWDs) monthly upkeep of Sh2, 000 starting this month to enable them to live decently, Principal Secretary State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizens Affairs Joseph Motari has said.
The PS said he is under instructions from President William Ruto to start paying the money to people with severe disabilities starting this week.
Speaking in Thika during an exercise where over 300 PWDs benefited with wheelchairs and foodstuffs from Hope Mobility NGO, the PS said that through a database that they have, they will be disbursing the funds to the group alongside the ongoing cash transfer programme for the elderly.
“PWDs will be receiving a monthly upkeep similar to that of the cash transfer programme for the elderly. I’m under instruction to ensure their stipends are paid before those of other employees are paid. We have their database,” said the PS.
The PS, who was accompanied by Thika MP Alice Nganga, further said the government hopes that the funds will cushion the beneficiary households from the negative impact of disability, calling on those parents still hiding their disabled children to come out and get assistance.
Motari said at the same time that his department will embark on mass grassroots identification of PWDs and the elderly so that no one will be left out of the programme.
“Parents are still hiding children who have disabilities, making them miss out on government empowerment programmes. We are set to launch a massive enrollment programme at the grassroots of all PWDs to rope everyone in,” Motari said.
The Thika MP, on her ppart,said the monthly upkeep and the good gesture towards the disadvantaged would offer empowerment and end the suffering that most of them face.
Ng’ang’a also called for tax exemption for goods and equipment meant for the disabled, urging the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to unconditionally release all containers meant for the PWDs held at port due to tax issues.
Beneficiaries led by Mercy Muthoni and Susan Wanjiru lauded the government for coming up with monthly upkeep, saying it will ease the suffering that they have been going through due to poverty.
They also lauded the efforts to give them foodstuffs and mobility devices, saying they will have a great impact on their lives.
“This is a noble cause. We have gone through difficult times, especially with mobility. On the monthly upkeep, it is a welcome move because at least we will be able to afford basic needs,” said Wanjiru.
By Muoki Charles
