Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has asked persons with disabilities to enrol for the government assistance programmes.
Waiguru stressed the need for PWDs to register with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and Inua Jamii programme so that the government has accurate data to guide planning and resource allocation for projects and programmes 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 Kerugoya Level 5 County Referral Hospital and Kianyaga hospitals for assessment.
She spoke at Kamiigua polytechnic grounds while issuing assorted assistive devices and other essential commodities to 306 PWDs.
“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.
The Council of Governors chairperson noted that persons living with disability are disproportionately excluded in many areas and the county government was making every effort to empower them for meaningful participation in development.
The governor gave out 90 wheelchairs, 37 being paediatric and 53 for adults, 16 crutches, and 16 white canes. Four people were fitted with artificial limbs and another five fitted with hearing aids.
“Recognising the dire need for palliative drugs for persons with cerebral palsy and autism, we have purchased drugs to be distributed through our Kerugoya Level 5 County Referral Hospital,” the governor added.
She said her administration has removed payment of single business permit for persons living with disability 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 disability 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 Centre at county government level - on the ground floor at the headquarters to ensure that people living with disability are efficiently and effectively served.
“The county government recognises 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 disability into groups that have been funded to undertake income generating projects.
"To supplement the empowerment programme, we are also establishing the 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 an artificial foot, 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 prosthetic that |I am using. I am still learning how to use it to get along with my life again,” Macharia said.
