Re-skilling KDF soldiers: Military wives hold disability workshop in Langata

Military Wives Association of Kenya held a disability workshop at the KDF Wellness Centre at Langata Barracks on Wednesday.

This was in coordination with the Department of Compensation and Welfare and Kenya Defence Forces medical department.

KDF said on their website that the theme of the event was ‘Marching forth to disability inclusion'.

The forum provided the much needed platform for discussion on some of the challenges that KDF personnel with various disabilities in and out of service face and, the way forward in regards to addressing them.

Chief of Welfare and Compensation Brigadier Charles Mwazighe expressed the great importance of inclusivity for all personnel regardless of one’s ability or lack thereof.

“Among the eight point agenda of the Chief of Defence Forces, number five is concerned with strengthening the soldier’s welfare system and that is why my department is prioritizing the acceleration of our response to our personnel’s needs, ” he said.

A number of institutions geared towards aiding people with disabilities have been scouted that will efficiently act as a step towards re-skilling our gallant soldiers who are now abled differently.

MWAK’S chairlady Tabitha Kibochi, reiterated that a joint operation, in partnership with the National Council of People with Disabilities and was crucial in ensuring that these soldiers are reintegrated back into society.

“Today’s outcome will determine the progress of tomorrow. MWAK will lobby and fight and push every soldier’s plea for assistance to ensure their voices are heard,” she said.

Chief Medical Officer Brigadier James Mwika said in line with furthering the CDF’s mission readiness agenda and, MWAK’s endeavour towards the address and betterment of personnel welfare, several advancements have been undertaken to ensure that the medical needs of KDF’s personnel will be well catered for within the establishment.

“A 120-bed medical facility at Kahawa Garrison is already in process of being constructed. And it is with great pride that I say Defence Forces Medical Services is now capable, in terms of equipment and personnel, of catering for some of the specialized needs of the disadvantaged,” he added.

Major Daniel Musila, an officer who was injured in the frontline, expressed his gratitude towards the measures put in place to reintegrate the disabled soldiers back into normalcy, consequently removing removing incidences of discrimination and stigma.

The NCPWD Executive Director, Harun Hassan expressed great honour and pleasure for the possibility of a future partnership with the KDF.

“We as NCPWD will strive to bring all our knowledge and experience to the table in helping our warrior brethren towards getting back their lives through counselling, rehabilitation and reassignment, ” he noted.

Various issues were raised among them, career progression, housing and infrastructure redesign to accommodate people with disabilities , treatment accessibility, tax exemption review, participation in sports and dependant employment.

Edited by CM