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DP Ruto pledges more help for the disabled during Joytown visit

Deputy President William Ruto said those to benefit from the National Social Safety Nets Programme are elderly and needy persons living with disabilities/DPPS

Deputy President William Ruto said those to benefit from the National Social Safety Nets Programme are elderly and needy persons living with disabilities/DPPS

THIKA, Kenya, Apr 29 – The Government will double the number of people benefitting from the cash transfer programme from the current 27,000 to 55,000 in the coming financial year.

Deputy President William Ruto said those to benefit from the National Social Safety Nets Programme are elderly and needy persons living with disabilities

“The Government currently uses Sh770million per year to pay elderly persons with disabilities as part of the cash transfer programme,” Ruto said during presentation of wheelchairs at Joytown Special School for the physically challenged in Thika, Kiambu County.
The allocation will increase to 1.5 billion.

He was accompanied by among others Governor William Kabogo, MPs Isaac Mwaura (nominated), Alice Nganga (Thika town), Wanjiku Muia (nominated), Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands), Kanini Kega (Kieni), Jude Jomo (Kiambu town), Francis Munywa (Juja), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Ann Nyokabi (Women MP Kiambu).

Ruto said all accounting officers both in national and county governments who fail to implement the 30 percent procurement, five percent employment opportunities in the public sector on persons with disabilities will face reproach.

“We want to make it clear that all accounting officers who fail to implement matters pertaining to persons with disabilities will carry their own cross,” said the Deputy President.

Ruto said the 27,000 households of elderly persons with disabilities would be enrolled in National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) cards so as to benefit from the comprehensive health scheme in the country.

“The Government will enrol and pay the monthly fee for the 27,000 households of elderly persons with disabilities for NHIF cards so that they can enjoy medical services like other Kenyans,” said Ruto.

At the same time, the DP said there was need to review the school curriculum as it does not favour disabled learners and that they should sit separate exams.

He said the Ministry of Education has been instructed to develop a specific curriculum for special schools to ensure that the students get a fair chance like those in other institutions.

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“It is grossly unfair to subject these children to the same examination as those who have no disability. Many of them tame too much time to do examinations because of their conditions,” he added.

Ruto said the government through the Ministry of Education will allocate Sh30 million to Joytown School for expansion and infrastructural development.

He also said the government will provide the institution with 100 laptops to make learning easier for the students.

Kabogo said his government has posted a physiotherapist to the school and requested members of the county assembly to waive a Sh3 million water bill for the institution.

He also said the county has donated equipment worth Sh2 million including wheel chairs, to be distributed to persons with disability.

The chairman of the National Council for Persons with Disability David ole Sankok commended Kiambu County for being top in employment of disabled persons.

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