Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has urged People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) to enroll for the government social assistance programmes so as to fully benefit from the initiatives.
The governor stressed the need of having PWDs registered with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and the Inua Jamii programmes so that the government has accurate data to guide planning and resource allocation for projects and programmes for them.
Speaking at Kamiigua Polytechnic grounds while issuing assorted assistive devices and other essential commodities to 306 people with different disabilities, she added the county government is undertaking assessment and registration for PWDs and appealed to those who are yet to be assessed to visit the Kerugoya Level Five County Referral Hospital and Kianyaga hospitals for assessment.
“We are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusivity to ensure no part of the society is left behind in the realisation of the county’s socio-economic development goals. We will soon be rolling out the assessment programme in every sub-county hospital,” the governor said.
She noted that persons living with disabilities are disproportionately excluded in many areas and the county government was making every effort to empower them for meaningful participation in the county’s development.
During the event she gave out 90 wheelchairs, 37 being pediatric and 53 for adults, 16 crutches, and 16 white canes. Four people were fitted with prosthetics and another 5 fitted with hearing aids.
To empower them in business the governor said her administration has removed payment of single business permits for persons living with disabilities as an incentive to support their business ventures.
“This waiver is expected to act as an incentive to narrowing and eventually closing the disparities that exist between people living with disabilities and the general community when it comes to opportunities in areas such as education, economic empowerment and political representation,” she said.
The county also has established a one-stop service desk- a replica of Huduma Center at county government level- on the ground floor at the headquarters to ensure that people living with disabilities are efficiently and effectively served.
“To supplement the empowerment programme, we are also establishing a County Empowerment and Development Fund to assist the vulnerable, PWDs, Women and Youth, and other common interest groups,” she said.
George Macharia, 55, one of the four people fitted with prosthetics said he was happy to walk again.
“After a road accident in 2016, my leg was amputated, I visited private hospitals but it was too expensive for me to afford a functional replacement for the missing limb. Governor Waiguru donated the prosthetics that I am using, and am still learning how to use it to get along with my life again,” Macharia said.
By Mutai Kipngetich
