BY MARGARET KIMATHI
Tens of residents from Mwingi West constituency who are living with disabilities have a reason to smile following a donation of assistive devices courtesy of an international NGO.
Walkabout Foundation – a United Kingdom and United States based lobby on Wednesday donated 63 wheelchairs valued at Kshs 1.5 million.
Speaking at Migwani market, the NGO’s country director David Muhoro said the assistance will help the vulnerable group who include the school-going children.
“Thousands of children in Kenya are unable to attend school because they lack mobility. Walkabout Foundation works hand in hand with the Social Development Officers to identify those with mobility difficulties so that they can be aided with wheelchairs,” Mr Muhoro said.
Mr Mwaniki Mwangangi, a guardian to one of the beneficiaries could not hide his joy saying the aid came as huge relief to him: "The organization has really helped me. I feel relieved because there before I used to pay Kshs 100 for the motorbike to ferry my grandchild which was also a big challenge for me to get since I am not employed,” he said.
Area Special Needs Education Officer Justina Pereira said that the wheelchairs will ease mobility of children in school. The work of the teachers while handling the learners will also become easier, she said. "We are also identifying the children who are not in school so far I have identified more than 10 children who were just at home and has never been to school so I took them to school so that they can be able to benefit from the government support just like other children”, She added.
The NGO which was founded in 2008 and opened its doors in Kenya in 2014 focuses in distributing wheelchairs to people who cannot walk due to their disabilities. The firm has distributed over 3,000 wheelchairs in Kenya.
Mr Muhoro revealed that the organization has so far helped disabled people in several parts of the nation such as Turkana, Moyale and Wajir counties.
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