By Sefu Sabila, DevReporter, Trans Nzoia
“We have a number of People With Disabilities (PWDs) who have shown interest in vying for Member of County Assembly (MCA) seats in wards within Kiminini constituency, Trans Nzoia County, like Waitaluk, Tuwan, Chepchoina Saboti and Sikhendu wards” Mr Ojiambo Opis, the chairman of PWDs in the area said.
Anthony Wanjala, a father of two, will be running on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. He said that he wants to ensure persons living with disabilities are well represented in politics.
“I will be going for the Tuwan ward MCA seat. I want to represent my people… We want an equal representation” Wanjala said.
Community sensitisation
The PWDs community has furthermore initiated grassroots search aimed at identifying members denied the right to education. They argue that denial of the right to education had forced several of their members to be engaged as casual labourers and often times hidden from society.
The group is sensitising parents with disabled children, through workshops and other groups as well as through media, to create awareness and reach out to others.
“We are doing sensitisation of parents across the County to inform them of the challenges faced by PWDs. We have placed them in support groups where they encourage each other. We have been going to radio stations and talking to our people about the plight of PWDs with the hope of reaching other parents so that they can come out,” Mr Opis explained.
“It is so sad that some parents have taken their children as casual labourers because of their condition. We are going to seek legal assistance as a team against parents subjecting their children to casual labour and hiding them from society,” Wanjala added.
Governance and inclusivity
With party primaries for August 2022 general election currently ongoing, Mr Opis says the parties should be fair and provide a friendly environment for PWDs to participate and compete for political posts.
“Some political parties do not have inclusion for PWDs. We are urging the County Commissioner to ensure leaders do not speak against our candidates and also provide security to our members,” Opis said.
The chairperson pleaded with the members of the public to give opportunity to the persons with disability vying for political leadership positions. He also encouraged the public not to judge them on the basis of their physical inabilities.
“Persons with disability are physically handicapped, but the brains is what leads. We will ensure everybody is well taken. We need opportunity and not sympathy; the public should give us opportunity to lead,” he pleaded.
The chairperson supported the efforts to develop disability law by the county. He said it will reduce the confusion of functions between the national government and county government.
“We need disability services to be devolved, whereby we have a law on disability enacted at the county level to avoid a mix up of functions,” Opis concluded.
