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| President William Ruto |
Disabled people in Kenya have listed several things they want the President to address in his address during the Mashujaa Day celebrations scheduled for October 2020. President William Ruto addressing a past national celebration. The group, through its North Eastern chairman, Hafid Maalim, has listed several issues, among them policies that have not been fully implemented. The chairman said that many disabled people in rural Kenya have been left out of government services.What are the demands of PWDs ahead of Mashujaa Day The 2019 Kenya National Housing and Population Census indicated that Kenya has an estimated 0.9 million persons with disabilities. The chairman said the number has grown, hence the need for enhanced government intervention.
“As a nation we must strives to achieve through inclusion and accessibility the disability mainstreaming as envisioned in Vision 2030,” Maalim told TUKO.co.ke. He called for more funding for the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), a state corporation established through the Persons with Disabilities Act No. 14 of 2003. “We call on the government to offer more funding to various institutions that provide social services to persons with disabilities,” he added The group has also called for full implementation of the Persons with Disability Act and protection of the disabled in implementation of the 30% procurement requirement for Women, youths and people with disabilities where cartels are taking advantage.
Other demands include a request to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to make sure that the 5% principle is applied at all levels of government so that PWDs get equal opportunities. County governments have also been urged to fully adopt policies that enhance access to service by PWDs. Why do people with disability want to meet Ruto? Earlier, people with disabilities in the country are pressed for a special meeting with the president to discuss their life challenges and concerns about national issues. While speaking to TUKO.co.ke, the group, called on Ruto to consider their request seriously. Hafid said they want discussions focused on discrimination in the distribution of employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors.
by Amos Khaemba
