At least 1,200 people living with disability have received
foodstuffs across Nyamira County, Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi said, in
an exercise targeting the vulnerable population within the community.
The programme will culminate in Nyamira North on Friday,
with the team relying on records from provincial administration, which has
exclusive mandate to protect and handle the welfare of the disabled in the
society.
Mrs Momanyi said they traversed in Manga and Masaba North
besides also reaching out to sections of Borabu Sub County.
“Seven wards have been covered with over 300 disabled people
reached,” Mrs. Momanyi said.
Some of the items donated include sugar, rice, salt, wheat
flour and face masks. On Wednesday, the team dispatched the items in parts of
Nyamira South, which also hosts the headquarters of the county government.
She said the exercise will be expanded in coming days as
part of cushioning the vulnerable in the society. Those who live in abject
poverty will be brought on board irrespective of their tribal, social and
political inclination.
“This (PLWD) is a special group living within us and as
their leader, I am reaching out to each of them so that we can help them during
this unprecedented challenge. We are covering all the sub counties within
Nyamira,” she said.
“I am very certain that we shall expand the program in
coming days for the sake of those living in abject poverty, not necessarily
those living with disability. It’s important that we help those who can’t
sustain these tough economic times,” the Woman Rep added.
At some sections of Masaba North especially in Gesima, she
said, most beneficiaries had not been registered by government authorities. For
them to access essential government services, she noted, they must reach out to
authorities.
President Uhuru ordered for disbursement of Sh500 million
owed to people living with disability a fortnight ago as part of efforts to
help as the country continues to struggle with COVID-19 pandemic. The money, he
said, will be channeled with existing money transfer schemes, which involves
strict adherence to records.
“I was shocked to discover that many of them are not
registered with government entities. I have talked to the County Commissioner
and I am hopeful that they will be listed for the sake of having all of them on
board,” said Momanyi.
She noted that to combat Coronavirus pandemic, all people
living with disabilities should wear face masks besides adhering to strict
government regulations, which include using sanitizers and avoiding handshakes,
adding that more masks will be distributed to all needy members.
The exercise comes just a month after the Nyamira Woman
Representative distributed hand sanitizers and water drums across the region,
targeting strategic areas mostly town centers and markets.
County Commissioner Amos Mariba lauded the initiative by the
county MP, noting that “we appreciate such personal initiatives as
authorities. I wish to thank her and other well-wishers for stepping in, this
is not a government crisis, it needs us all.”
County Executive Committee Member in charge of health Mr.
Douglas Bosire on Wednesday warned that the county is not safe, urging
residents to adhere to guidelines issued by the government and the local
authorities.
“This doesn’t mean we are safe. I urge all residents to
adhere to regulations set by the national government. This is a problem to all
of us, we must tolerate one another,” he said while receiving face masks
from World Vision in Nyamira on Wednesday.
By estimation, Mrs. Momanyi said the county could be having
slightly more than 2000 disabled persons once the government takes records in
coming days. Local administrators among them Assistant County Commissioners and
chiefs are supervising the exercise as directed by the ministry of interior.
As of Wednesday, Kenya had recorded 582 positive cases of
COVID-19. Of this number, 192 had been discharged from quarantine facilities
while 26 have since died, health minister Mutahi Kagwe said.
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