• The donations were meant to ease mobility and generate income for the PWDs.
• Oswe noted that evaluation would be done future applicants for the assistive devices in any part of the country and those successful, his team would deliver.
The National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) Tuesday donated assistive devices and tools of trade worth Sh1.3 million to persons living with disabilities in Laikipia County.
The donations were meant to ease mobility and generate income for the PWDs.
With more than 60 beneficiaries of the devices, the NFDK Program officer, Japheth Oswe speaking in Nanyuki town, however, cautioned them against selling the donated devices, noting it would water down the efforts made in assisting them to lead a normal life.
Based on individual requests, the assisting devices included wheelchairs, crutches and walking canes for those with physical challenges while the tools for trade included sewing machines, hair salon equipment’s, workshop tools, irrigation kits, welding and knitting machines and shaving kits.
“Should we discover a beneficiary has sold his or her donation, our organization will blacklist the recipient and bar them from future assistance," he warned.
Oswe noted that evaluation would be done future applicants for the assistive devices in any part of the country and those successful, his team would deliver.
“We have had cases where beneficiaries cannot be traced as they changed the phone number, compared to the one indicated in their application forms,” he said
Oswe further revealed the three special institutions flagship projects in Laikipia county for learners with disabilities; Ol Ngárua Special School, Sipili Special School and a multi-purpose hall and kitchen.
Elizabeth Njoki, one of the beneficiaries who received her salon equipment, was happy as she could fend for her family since she will have a steady income
“I am so grateful! I can now open my own salon and the income will help me feed and educate my children” Njoki said.
According to the 2019 census, the status of disability in Kenya estimates, about 2.2 per cent (0.9 million people) of Kenyans live with some form of disability.
Edited by D Tarus