By Lilian Mukoche
Kakamega County, Kenya: Persons living with disabilities in the rural parts of Kakamega County have been adversely affected by the harsh effects of covid-19. They are not able to access basic resources, needs, and services.
Most of them blame their leaders claiming that they have abandoned them leaving them to suffer especially during this period of Covid-19 when they need them the most.
The national government has tried to assist Persons living with disabilities in the little way it can by making funds available to help cater to their needs.
In other areas, however, persons living with disabilities say the government both at the national and county level has neglected them and they don’t know whom to turn to for help.
According to Berthez Wechuli a former chairperson and activist on matters of Persons living with disabilities in Navakholo sub-county in Kakamega county notes they received some help in 2020.
“The national government distributed some funds in the initial stages of the Covid-19 outbreak where most of us received through our phones amounts ranging from Ksh 1000 to Ksh 6000 to help cater for our needs” explains Wechuli.
Ben Wetaba from the Butere sub-county says he has suffered from stroke for the last 10 years and life has not been easy since Covid-19 struck as the government has really sidelined them.
“I suffered a stroke as a result of wrong medication and I have tried many ways to get well but it’s been impossible which means I will live with this condition forever a situation that has made it hard for me to cater for my family” says Wetaba.
Aggrey Akala whose leg was amputated due to diabetes in 2015, says life is difficult especially for people with the same condition but the government both at the national and county level doesn’t care whether they exist or not.
“I have never benefitted from funds set aside for persons living with disabilities and during this corona period, no masks or sanitizers have reached me” says Akala.
Adding “I struggle using my own means in order to follow the containment measures put in place by the government to minimize the spread of covid-19 by purchasing masks and sanitizer for the sake of myself and my family to be safe”.
Aziza Otianya a caregiver and wife to Aggrey Otianya who lives with disability “In order to contain the virus, mask-wearing is a must but most of us cannot afford it due to high economy and there is no special treatment when we visit the hospital as it used to be before Covid-19” she says.
She urges the government to reach out to these special groups of people and assist them especially during this period of covid-19.
Speaking through a phone call interview, Everlyne Omurai an officer from the social services department of Persons living with disabilities says that this group of people has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic but not only them, even the rest including the government in terms of funds, though there are specific cases that have been receiving some funds from the government which is a long-term project that the government wishes to do for a while.
On registration, she warns Persons living with disabilities about fraudsters and brokers who go around registering them in the name of the government with money that ends up in their pockets.
“I urge you as persons living with disabilities to be on the alert so that you don’t fall prey to fraudsters and brokers asking you to register and access government funds” says Evelyne
Adding “The government only registers people in their offices and chief’s offices and not individuals in their homes”.
The Government is calling on Persons living with disabilities to apply for financial support like bursaries in their offices, even for children living with disabilities and those that have parents with the same condition should apply.
Evelyne also encourages the people living with dissability to apply for other funding projects like Aquafarming rather than entirely depending on the disability funds from the government.
