Leaders Urged To Ensure Opportunities For PWDs
Kisii County Woman Representative, Doris Aburi, has urged leaders to ensure that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are accorded opportunities in adherence to the National Values and Principles of Governance, as stipulated under the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
Aburi said that PWDs, among other special groups, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and that if empowered, they can contribute immensely to the socio-economic development of the country.
She noted that at least 8,000 PWDs in Kisii County have benefited from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) kitty in recent years, which has provided them with devices such as wheelchairs and walkers.
However, Aburi alleged that PWDs are still being discriminated against in appointments to public service, against the tenets of Article 10 of the Constitution on Social Justice, Non-discrimination, Equality, and Protection of the Marginalized.
She emphasized that PWDs can also contribute immensely to economic growth by participating in agriculture, education, and micro-small and medium enterprises.
Aburi condemned superstitions and policies that further stigmatize marginalized groups in society, such as the dispossession of land from widows who are unable to bear sons, and the disqualification of persons with disabilities from accessing public service jobs.
She cited the example of disabled children who are rejected but embraced when they excel in certain fields after empowerment.
One Naomi Nyakeya, a leader of a youth group from Kisii South, cited challenges faced by PWDs, including misuse by politicians for their own selfish interests and lack of feeds for their livestock, especially by widows who have been dispossessed of their land.
Linet Nyakeriga, a PWD, applauded NGAAF for enabling leaders to supply white canes to persons with visual disabilities, saying it has eased their mobility and made them less dependent on relatives, caregivers, and others in society.
WDs among other special groups, deserved to be treated with human dignity, adding that if empowered they would contribute immensely to the socio-economic development of the country.
Distributing devices for PWDs, including wheelchairs and walkers, courtesy of the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) kitty, Aburi noted that at least 8,000 people had benefited from the recent past.
The Woman Rep alleged People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) were being discriminated against for appointments to public service, against tenets of Article 10 of the Constitution on Social Justice, Non-discrimination, Equality, and Protection of the marginalized.
“PWDS can also contribute immensely to economic growth, by participating in Agriculture, Education, and Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises,” she said.
Taking issue with land dispossession on widows who were unable to bear sons and disqualification of disabled persons from accessing public service jobs, Aburi condemned superstitions and policies that further stigmatize the marginalized groups in society.
“Imagine the disabled children are rejected, but embraced when they excelled in certain fields after empowerment,” she observed.
One Naomi Nyakeya, a leader of a youth group from Kisii South, cited challenges they faced, including misuse by politicians for their own selfish interests and lack of feeds for their livestock, especially by widows who were dispossessed of their land.
Linet Nyakeriga, applauded NGAAF, for enabling leaders to supply walk-sticks (white canes), for those with sight impairment, saying it eased their mobility, enabling them to be less dependent on relatives, care-givers and others in the society.
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