BAM—In a gesture of support and encouragement for their local defense efforts, the Communal Coordination of Women of Zimtanga has donated 250,000 FCFA to the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) in the commune of Zimtanga. The contribution, made on February 7, 2024, aims to bolster the VDP’s ongoing efforts in the reconquest of the homeland.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Fatou Zalvet, wife of Grimanio and president of the special delegation (PDS) of Zimtanga, the donation was collected from women across various villages within the commune. This financial support represents the community’s collective response to the call of the Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, for civic contributions to the VDP’s cause. Coordinator Ms. OUEDRAOGO Marie Fatimata emphasized the collective effort of all villages in the commune to raise the funds, highlighting the sacrifice of the VDP in striving for peace in the country.
The funds were officially handed over to the Prefect, who then passed them on to the representative of the VDP of Zimtanga during a ceremony at the VDP headquarters, witnessed by a delegation from the VDP coordination cell. The Prefect praised the women’s initiative and reiterated her support for the VDP’s critical work on the ground. The spokesperson for the VDP assured the donors and the Zimtanga PDS of their unwavering commitment to combating the forces threatening their community until the very end.
This donation follows a previous fundraising effort in May 2023, where the same group mobilized 500,000 CFA francs in support of the patriotic fund, demonstrating ongoing community support for national defense efforts.
KAKAMEGA — The Kakamega County Disability Caucus is actively seeking to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs) are fully addressed in the upcoming County Budget, aiming for comprehensive inclusion and support.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Chair of the Kakamega County Disability Caucus, the group is focused on making certain that the county’s budget allocation process is inclusive of the needs and priorities of people with disabilities. This initiative was highlighted during a training session for PWD budget champions held at a local hotel in Kakamega, in preparation for the county’s public participation forum on the County Fiscal Strategy Paper scheduled for the 15th of this month.
Mulombi, who also represents PWDs on the County Budget and Economic Forum Committee chaired by Governor Fernandes Barasa, pointed out that the needs of disabled individuals are often not fully captured in the budget due to a lack of awareness and advocacy. “From today on, we are going to lobby with the sector departments just to ensure that our priorities are 100 per cent captured,” Mulombi stated, underscoring the caucus’s commitment to active engagement and advocacy.
The training for the Budget Champions received support from the United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), the Kenya Network for Women and Girls with Disabilities, and was facilitated by International Budget Partnership (IBP) facilitator Paul Odongo. Mulombi called on county officials to ensure the inclusion of budget champions in public participation forums to articulate issues and contribute to the creation of a disability-friendly and gender-inclusive budget.
The caucus emphasizes the importance of feedback from the county government on the memoranda submitted by PWDs, highlighting public participation forums as a key benefit of devolution for disabled individuals. Gregory Nanzai, a PWD representative from Mumias West, echoed the call for inclusivity, urging the county government to provide opportunities for PWDs to contribute during public participation forums.
Barthes Wechuli Sifuna, chair of the Navakholo Disability Initiative group, appealed for increased allocation to PWDs, women, and youth to support entrepreneurship and self-empowerment activities. He also urged Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to pass legislation that empowers PWDs through financial support and good governance.
Paul Odongo, the IBP-trained Budget Facilitator, highlighted the growing awareness among PWDs of their rights and called for the county government to ensure adequate fund allocation for this group in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) and the final budget. Odongo stressed the importance of equipping Special Needs Education (SNE) schools and ensuring sufficient facilities to support PWDs effectively. “We have seen disability mainstreaming in health. The county should take action on matters of Special Needs Education (SNE),” he added, advocating for comprehensive support for PWDs in education and beyond.