Leaders of Disabled Persons Organisation (DPOs) in Laikipia County have been sensitised on advocacy and inclusion to amplify the voices of the vulnerable from the region in public affairs.
Speaking during a capacity building workshop for PWDs on Saturday in Nanyuki, Sang’ida Foundation director Jacinta Silakan said they targeted to strengthen inclusivity in decision making that involves persons with disabilities.
“The forum was all inclusive. We had young and old people who have different forms of disability. We came together to have a dialogue on how to sharpen our skills on influencing and inclusivity in all areas,” said Silakan.
Ms Silakan said there is a need to have capacity building for Persons with Disabilities where she singled out human rights and disability mainstreaming.
She called on Persons with disabilities to work in unity especially during next year’s general elections with the objective of gaining representation in the political arena.
She lamented that previously they have been sidelined on matters of representation in the political space hence have had no one to highlight their problems in the region.
Laikipia Women with Disabilities Amplifying Voices chairperson Valentine Kiraita urged the government to allocate more resources for Persons with disabilities that will ensure they benefit up to grassroots level.
“The National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has not reached us at Mashinani level. We are very sure with the right management of the available resources we can benefit,” said Ms Kiraita.
Ms Kiraita urged persons with disabilities to get vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus and at the same time lauded government effort in taking the vaccine services closer to them.
She further called on Persons with disabilities in the region to front a candidate in next year’s general election who has ability to serve them diligently without discrimination.
The one-day training event was organised by Sang’ida Foundation, an organisation that amplifies the voices and addresses the negative perception of PWDs in Laikipia County.
According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report on Global Population, estimates that about 15 percent of the world population lives with some forms of disabilities, the majority coming from developing countries.
Further, the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census report by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), it is estimated that there are 918,270 Persons with Disabilities countrywide aged five years and above.
In Laikipia County, there are 8,352 Persons with Disabilities.
By Muturi Mwangi
