Nyeri: Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have been advised to take advantage of government programmes to help uplift their living standards.

According to Kenya News Agency, National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) Board member David Musila emphasized the government's increased allocation to PWDs across the country, enabling them to lead lives comparable to ordinary Kenyans. Musila, a former Kitui Senator, highlighted the significant contributions PWDs are making to national development, countering societal segregation they previously experienced.

Musila's remarks came during an event at Nyeri Regional Commissioner's grounds, where Cheques were issued to 13 learning institutions, and assistive devices and vocational tools were distributed to 22 PWDs. He underscored the importance of utilizing these resources to improve livelihoods, stating that the focus has shifted from merely donating wheelchairs to providing tools like agricultural kits, sewing machines, and barber kits that can enhance beneficiaries' lives.

Nyeri County Commissioner Josephat Biwott praised the Fund's initiatives aimed at fostering self-reliance among PWDs. Biwott committed to ensuring the donations serve their intended purpose and warned beneficiaries against misusing the resources, noting that such actions would be treated as criminal offences. He also mentioned collaborations with educational institutions to secure business premises for PWDs and promised capacity-building training to equip beneficiaries with entrepreneurial skills.

Biwott further explained plans to involve local officials in monitoring the utilization of donations and to conduct regular evaluations in collaboration with the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya. Beneficiaries, like Ms. Beatrice Wangari and Titus Gitonga, expressed gratitude for the support, vowing to use the tools to enhance their livelihoods.

The NFDK's contributions during the event amounted to Sh.879,560 in assistive devices and vocational tools. By May of the previous year, the government had allocated Sh 54,867,524 through NFDK for various projects in the Central Region, with Nyeri County receiving Sh 9,821,025 for such initiatives.