President Uhuru Kenyatta has applauded the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK), for improving the lives of persons with disabilities.
According to the head of state, members of the NFDK’s Board of Trustees have worked tirelessly in ensuring that the needs of persons with disabilities are catered for both in Government and in the society.
“I congratulate all of you for the great work you have been doing and continue to do to ensure the special needs of persons with disabilities are catered for,” President Kenyatta said.
President Kenyatta who is also the patron of the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya, spoke on Monday when he met members of the NFDK’s Board of Trustees who paid him a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi.
The President acknowledged the mainstreaming of the special education needs of persons with disabilities in the country’s education policy as one of the achievements of the NFDK, saying the move has enabled more persons with disabilities to excel in their education.
During the meeting, the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya Board of Trustees chairperson presented to the President their progress report for the last five years.
Chairperson Mrs. Kristina Pratt thanked President Kenyatta for his support in facilitating the NFDK to serve persons with disability and uplifting their lives.
“On behalf of the entire disability fraternity, we thank you for the strides made to continually improve the lives of persons with disabilities in this country over your 10-year tenure. You have supported our Fund and you have been a great source of inspiration,” Mrs. Pratt said.
According to NFDK board of trustees Chairperson Mrs. Pratt, with President Kenyatta as the patron, the Fund has increased its annual donation to persons with disabilities from Kshs 14 million to Kshs 350 million.
“We initiated and successfully implemented flagship projects for the benefit of persons with disabilities, where currently more than 160 projects have been funded. We have also continually improved on the portfolio of vocational tools of trade donated to individual persons with disabilities,” Mrs. Pratt said.
She further thanked the President for creating an environment where persons with disabilities access the opportunities to do business with the Government through the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) policy.
“Your Government has also progressively ensured the inclusion of persons with disabilities into leadership positions in mainstream Government, Government agencies and county governments,” she added.
The NFDK Board of Trustees members who attended the meeting included Vice-chairperson Peter Nyakiamo, Prof. Julia Ojiambo, Dr. Michael Kiswili, Prof. Francis Kibera, Mrs. Charity Kiilu, Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka, Mr. David Musila, Mrs. Anne Mugambi, Mrs. Cecilia Mbaka, Mr. Clement Kiteme and Prof. Margaret Kamar.
Others were Gender Cabinet Secretary Prof. Margaret Kobia and the Fund’s CEO Mr. Anthony Muli.