The Mountain Journal
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has asked people living with disabilities (PwD) to
enroll for the government social assistance programmes so as to fully benefit from the
initiatives.
Waiguru stressed the need of having PwDs registered with the National Council for
Persons with Disabilities and the Inua Jamii programme so that the government has
accurate data to guide planning and resource allocation for projects and programs for
them.
The governor said the county government is undertaking assessment and registration
for PwDs and appealed to those who are yet to be assessed to visit Kerugoya Level
Five County Referral Hospital and Kianyaga hospitals for assessment.
She spoke at Kamiigua Polytechnic grounds while issuing assorted assistive devices
and other essential commodities for some 306 PwDs.
“We are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusivity to ensure no part of the
society is left behind in the realization of the county’s socio-economic development
goals. We will soon be rolling out the assessment program in every sub-county
hospital,” the governor said.
The Council of Governors (CoG) chair noted that persons living with disabilities are
disproportionately excluded in many areas and the county government was making
every effort to empower them for meaningful participation in the county’s development.
The governor gave out 90 wheelchairs, 37 being pediatric and 53 for adults, 16
crutches, and 16 white canes. Four people were fitted with prosthetics and another 5
fitted with hearing aids.
“Recognizing the dire need for palliative drugs for persons with cerebral palsy and
autism, we have purchased drugs to be distributed through our Kerugoya Level Five
County Referral Hospital,” the Governor added.
She said her administration has removed payment of single business permit for persons
living with disabilities as an incentive to support their business ventures.
“This waiver is expected to act as an incentive 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 county government level- on the ground floor at the 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.
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.
