DISCRIMINATION

Baringo PWDs angry at exclusion from MCA nomination list — again

Say it's now almost a decade since 2013 without representation at the county assembly

In Summary
  • PWDs say it's now close to a decade since 2013 without representation at the county assembly.
  • They filed but lost a petition seeking justice at Kabarnet law court  in 2017.
Baringo People With Disability address media in Kabarnet town on Sunday, September 16.
NO NOMINATIONS: Baringo People With Disability address media in Kabarnet town on Sunday, September 16.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO

Persons with Disability in Baringo are crying foul, saying they have again been locked out from nomination to the county assembly.

They accuse the ruling UDA party of sidelining them, despite there being a law on their nomination to the assembly.

“The law provides equal opportunity to the youth, women and PWDs but we wonder who always takes what belongs to us?" Baringo Paralympics secretary Richard Cherutich said on Sunday.

He said not even one PDW was picked.

“Interestingly, we had the names of our representatives appearing in the initial IEBC list but later they were omitted in the final list. We don't know why," Cherutich said.

He said it is now almost a decade since they were last represented ,as no PWD has been nominated since 2013.

"Unfortunately, this kind of discrimination always happens to us without being given any explanation,” he said.

Michael Tamam, a paralympics champion, said he thought the 2010 Constitution would effectively cater for their challenges as PWDs.

Baringo People With Disability address media in Kabarnet town on Sunday, September 18.
DON'T EXCLUDE US: Baringo People With Disability address media in Kabarnet town on Sunday, September 18.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO

“It it so frustrating that we always play active role in campaigns and elections only to be locked out when it comes to sharing of the national cake. We must tel Kenyans we are not happy about this,” Tamam said.

He said they have shamefully been forced to march and picket in the streets, which they dislike.

Tamam said they petitioned at a Kabarnet law court back in 2017 after being locked out at the county assembly but ended up losing it “due to lack of funds".

He said they are so poor they couldn't afford a lawyer to represent them in court.

"That is why money Kenyans with money are always taking advantage of us.” 

Tamam said they are willing to move to court and block the nominee list, calling on lawyers of goodwill to offer them pro bono services.

Gladys Chepyegon called upon UDA party leader President William Ruto to intervene and address the issue of fairness to PWDs.

“If he really means well for Kenyans about his bottom-up economic model, then he should begin by putting PWDs issues in order,” she said.

She further urged Ruto to deal with the cartels using money to frustrate and deprive them of their rights.

“On this, our elected leaders in Baringo always keep silent or even some of them play a part in rigging us out,” Chepyegon said. 

 

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