Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has asked people living with disabilities (PwD) to enroll for the government social assistance programmes so as to fully benefit from the initiatives.
Waiguru stressed the need of having PwDs registered with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and the Inua Jamii programme so that government has accurate data to guide planning and resource allocation for projects and programs for them.
The governor said the county government is undertaking assessment and registration for PwDs and appealed to those who are yet to be assessed to visit our Kerugoya Level Five County Referral Hospital and Kianyaga hospitals for assessment.
She spoke at Kamiigua Polytechnic grounds while issuing assorted assistive devices and other essential commodities for some 306 PwDs.
“We are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusivity to ensure no part of the society is left behind in the realization of the county’s socio-economic development goals. We will soon be rolling out the assessment program in every sub-county hospital,” the governor said.
The Council of Governors (CoG) chair 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.
The governor 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.
“Recognizing the dire need for palliative drugs for persons with cerebral palsy and autism, we have purchased drugs to be distributed through our Kerugoya Level Five County Referral Hospital,” the Governor added.
She said her administration has removed payment of single business permit 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.
Waiguru said she 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.
“The County Government recognizes the right of access to government services by every citizen. This will save PWDs the agony of having to move from one office to another in search of various services,” the governor said.
The County government, through the Wezesha Kirinyaga Programme has supported over 20 groups of vulnerable and those living with disabilities into groups that have been funded to undertake income generating projects.
“To supplement the empowerment program, 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.
Members of County Assembly (MCAs) presents among them Deputy Speaker Jinaro Njamumo said the initiative to support PWDs with assorted assistive devices shows commitment by governor Waiguru to uplift the less privileged in the society.
George Macharia, 55, one of the four people fitted with prosthetics said he was happy to walk again.
“After the 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 am using, am still learning how to use it to get along with my life again,” Macharia said.
