KISE disability outreach programme transforms lives in Tharaka Nithi

Residents of Mukothima Ward in Tharaka Nithi queue to receive disability assessment services courtesy of Kenya Institute of Special Education/HANDOUT

Hundreds of parents and guardians across Tharaka Nithi County have received life-changing support through a six-day outreach programme by the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE).

The mission brought essential services directly to the grassroots.

From Mukothima to Tharaka North, Tharaka West, Tharaka South, and Chiakariga, families braved long queues and harsh weather for a rare opportunity: access to specialised disability assessments and support services that have long been unavailable or unaffordable for many in rural Kenya.

For most, it wasn’t just a medical or educational checkup—it was a lifeline.

“This outreach has given us hope that our children can have a future, just like everyone else’s,” said one parent, visibly emotional after receiving her child’s first professional assessment.

Inside converted classrooms and mobile clinics, KISE specialists delivered a comprehensive range of services—including functional assessments, speech and physiotherapy, medical disability evaluations, psychosocial support, and nutritional guidance. For many families, it was the first time they had access to such care.

Dr. Norman Kiogora, Director of Kenya Institute of Special Education/HANDOUT

But the programme wasn’t just about services; it was about dignity.

“The outreach is about more than just assessments. It is about restoring dignity, raising awareness, and showing these families that their children matter,” said Dr. Norman Kiogora, Director of KISE.

Kiogora reaffirmed KISE’s commitment to reaching even the most remote communities.

“It is in the small, consistent steps that we pave the way for great impact—transforming the lives of learners with special needs, one community at a time.”

The success of the Tharaka Nithi outreach was made possible through support from Tharaka MP George Gitonga Murugara, who facilitated the initiative through his office to ensure that “KISE could go mashinani—where the people are.”

This latest outreach is part of a larger, national effort by KISE to bridge the gap in access to disability services.

In recent months, the institute has carried out similar programmes in counties such as Elgeyo Marakwet, Samburu, Nandi, Turkana, Machakos, West Pokot, and Wajir, with each visit attracting hundreds of families desperate for support and inclusion.