Kenya Reinsurance Corporation’s (Kenya Re) 2022 Niko Fiti Campaign has donated an assortment of assistive devices to Persons With Disabilities in Busia county.
Over 400 Persons With Disabilities assembled at Amukura in Teso South Sub County to receive the tools which were unveiled by Kenya Re’s Corporate Affairs Manager Gladys Some and Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK) head of programs Benson Kiptum.
Some while speaking during the event said that Busia and Kwale counties are this year’s beneficiaries of the Niko fiti campaign which was kick-started ten years ago as a flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of Kenya Re.
She called upon the beneficiaries to make good use of the tools to better their lives.
“Let them make maximum use of the devices, especially the wheelchairs so that they can transform their lives from where they were before receiving them,” she said.
Some further cautioned parents against hiding their children who have disabilities adding that they deserve to live, work and go to school.
Her sentiments were echoed by APDK Head of Programs Benson Kiptum who called upon the beneficiaries to properly use the devices to better their lives adding that a lot of money had been used to buy them.
Kiptum lauded the move by Kenya Re noting that the biggest challenge persons with disabilities face is the lack of assistive devices because of cost and access.
He revealed that they have been in partnership with Kenya Re for close to 11 years, and they work closely to ensure persons with disabilities access assistive devices.
Kiptum says this year they intend to support 634 persons with disabilities in Busia and Kwale counties with about 969 devices.
He called upon the county governments and other willing partners to rally behind the noble cause and ensure persons with disability access the devices and assistive technology.
Ruth Munywoki, Teso South Sub County Social Services Officer appealed for more assistive devices for the PWDs saying it is better to give them mobility devices that will enable them to engage in productive activities rather than cash handouts.
Busia County chairman for persons with disabilities Ronald Obiero lauded Kenya Re and APDK for the mobility devices donation saying the devices will play a great role in uplifting their livelihoods.
The Niko Fiti Campaign is a project targeting persons with disabilities across the country to enable them to live normal life and feel like any other Kenyan.
According to Some, over 11,000 PWDs have benefited from the project across the country since its inception.