MCAs want wheelchairs, more money for disabled

Have we thought about the significant contribution in the economy made by people with disability as consumers, employers, assistive technology developers, mobility aid manufacturers and academics among others? PHOTO | FILE | FOTOSEARCH

What you need to know:

  • Nakuru MCAs passed a motion to compel the Executive to buy wheelchairs for residents.
  • They also want more funds and tenders given to people with disability.
  • The MCAs also want county offices and facilities to be disability-friendly.

The Nakuru County Assembly has passed a motion seeking to compel the executive to buy wheelchairs for people living with disability.

The motion was moved by Kiamaina MCA Isaac Wahome.

DISABILITY

The assembly unanimously agreed on Tuesday that people living with disability should be given free medical cover.

They want the county government to supplement the national cash transfer programme of Sh2,000 by setting up a special kitty for them.

The MCAs want these provisions included in the 2018/2019 county budget.

While moving the motion, Mr Wahome said people with severe disability were neglected.

He claimed that in his ward, only 18 out of 50 people living with severe disability receive the Sh2,000 government cash transfer fund.

Mr Wahome also noted that there was insufficient data on people living with disability in the county.

He urged the Nakuru County People Living with Disability Board to update its records.

PERMITS

Molo MCA Njoroge Karanja said the motion was long overdue.

He said people living with disability should also be exempted from paying single business permit licences and should be given higher bursaries.

“These people form a critical component of our society and as an assembly we should make sure they feel more comfortable by passing this motion,” said Mr Karanja.

He said the assembly should also be a disability-friendly facility so that everyone can comfortably access the offices and other facilities.

“This assembly has toilets but people living with disability would struggle to use them as they are not user friendly,” said Mr Karanja.

TENDERS

Majority leader Stanley Karanja said more tenders should be awarded to people living with disability.

Their services should also be devolved to the wards instead of forcing them to travel to Nakuru Town to be assisted, he added.

The majority leader said the county should also set aside funds to build a school for people living with disability.

Hells Gate MCA John Njuguna Njenga said that he was forced to take his child to Kisumu as the local schools do not have facilities for pupils with disabilities.

“I was told to expand one of the toilets if I wanted my son to join the school as it did not have facilities for disabled pupils,” said Mr Njuguna.