Tharaka Nithi County government has collaborated with Partner for Care (PFC) a Non-Governmental Organization and Zetech University to offer People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) with mobility carts to boost them economically.
Through the joint initiative the NGO has distributed 15 mobility carts that will enable PLWDs to move with ease while selling their goods in town.
Addressing the media after a consultative meeting with Zetech University and Partners for care, Governor Muthomi Njuki disclosed that the beneficiaries will be the only hawkers allowed to move around the town while the rest will be placed in a centralized market place.
“These carts have a space where you can put things and move around. To enable them work efficiently, they will be the only hawkers allowed in town as the rest will be selling from the marketplace,” he stressed.
The governor affirmed that the disabled hawkers will undergo extensive training on how to use the carts, “We have to empower them on how to operate the carts through training, otherwise they might park them in their houses,” he observed.
The governor at the same time revealed that the beneficiaries will be facilitated with startup capital to purchase the products they wish to trade in.
On the other hand Zetech University committed to offer the beneficiaries counselling besides guiding them on how to manage the money.
The three institutions also resolved to start mentorship programs for students transiting to university and secondary schools that will cover among other topics career guidance.
The institutions representatives noted that due to ever advancing technology, some careers were becoming extinct while others were congested thus the need for graduates to pursue new career paths that had high demand in the job market.
On his part Zetech University Vice Chancellor professor, Njenga Munene encouraged students and graduates seeking further education to reflect and study on the world economic report that indicates many jobs will soon be out of the market to understand the career path they should take.
Prof. Munene advised students to be careful when choosing courses as some may render them jobless after graduation. ‘’ In addition, you should concentrate on modern subjects such as E-commerce to secure good job positions in future,” he further advised.
By Sharon Gitau
