Deputy President William Ruto stepped up his campaigns on Tuesday, outlining an elaborate plan to improve the livelihoods of persons with disabilities if elected.
Ruto, who was meeting the group’s representatives as part of Kenya Kwanza’s ongoing approach of collecting views from various categories, promised jobs and access to business opportunities.
He also announced plans to double school bursaries and learning facilities for children with disabilities.
The DP said while many of the physically challenged people in the country can afford to pay taxes just like other Kenyans, they have failed to access credit to grow their businesses or even get contracts from the government.
“As we discuss about expanding the tax base by ensuring we carry a proportionate burden of taxation...we must actualise our plan of ensuring they access all available government opportunities,” he said.
Promising that his administration would actualise its agenda targeting the group, Ruto said for long their rights had not been considered, hence disadvantaging them.
On access to government procurement opportunities, he said all those with local purchase orders would get funding from the hustler’s kitty.
“It cannot be just on the paper, it must be quantified. We are going to give you money to enable you supply whatever you are required to,” the Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate said.
Ruto further said the alliance would increase the number of integrated learning centres so that children with disabilities can have the best possible chance to acquire quality education.
“We want the children to feel that the government appreciates and cares for people [with] disabilities,” he said.
Regarding ease of access to required services for the group, the DP said his administration would have national offices cascaded down to the county level.
He said it was heartbreaking that most of PWDs have been subjected to undue suffering of travelling long distances to acquire assistive devices from the government.
Ruto also said they are going to partner with private companies to have them hire more people from the group.
He was accompanied by ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, Maendeleo Chap Chap’s Alfred Mutua, Senator Isaac Mwaura and nominated MP David Sankok.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
