The Mountain Journal
Kirinyaga County government has announced the exemption of payment of a single
business permit for persons living with disability (PWD as an incentive to
support their business ventures.
Governor Anne
Waiguru says that so far more than 300 PWDs have benefited from the waiver.
In a speech
read on her behalf by Deputy Governor David Githanda during valentine’s day
celebration with people living with disabilities at Kamiigua Polytechnic
grounds, Waiguru said her administration is committed to closing the disparities that exist between people living with
disabilities and the general community.
“This waiver is
expected to act we are committed to narrowing and eventually closing the
disparities that exist between people living with disabilities and the general
community when it comes to opportunities in areas such as education, economic
empowerment, and political representation,” she said.
Waiguru said
she has established a one-stop service desk- a replica of Huduma Center at the county government level- on the ground floor at our headquarters to ensure that
people living with disabilities are efficiently and effectively served.
“The County
Government recognizes the right of access to government services by every
citizen. This will save PWDs the agony of having to move from one office to
another in search of various services,” the governor said.
Waiguru further
asked people living with disabilities to enroll with the new National Council for Persons with
Disabilities registration system so as to fully benefit from the government’s
programmes.
The Council of
Governor’s chair said so far the county has registered more than 12,000 persons
living with various disabilities.
“In order to
have accurate data to guide our planning and resource allocation for projects
and programs for PWDs, we have been carrying out assessment and registration
for them. I am appealing to those who are yet to be assessed to visit our
Kerugoya County Referral Hospital for assessment. You can also look out for our
outreach assessment programs like the one we are carrying out today,” she added.
The
County government, through the Wezesha Kirinyaga Programme has supported over
20 groups of vulnerable and those living with disabilities into groups that have
been funded to undertake income-generating projects.
She said to
support PWDs in participating in socio-economic activities her administration
has provided more than 1,500 people with assistive devices and items such as
wheelchairs, clutches, white canes, mosquito nets and diapers.
The governor
said the county government has commenced the process of brailing of strategic
documents and has already facilitated about 21 officers to acquire basic sign
language skills to improve access to information.
County
Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Gender and Youth Millicent Wawira Ngari
said the county government will be availing an enhanced budget for the provision of
more devices to help PWDs in mobility.
To mark
valentine’s day, Governor Waiguru donated blankets, foodstuffs like rice, cooking
oil, and maize flour among others to the community.
They
also benefited from free medical screening, disability assessment and.
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