MCA calls for a review of Persons with Disabilities Act

Nyandarua

Monday, August 28, 2023

KNA by Antony Mwangi

A Nyandarua-nominated MCA, Joyce Munyua, has called for a review of the Disability Act to make it mandatory for counties to reserve employment slots for people living with disabilities. 

She said the Act is not clear whether it was mandatory for counties to ensure people with disabilities got five percent of all appointments made.

“The Disability Act says five percent of employment or appointments should be reserved for people living with disabilities but this is not happening in counties,” said Munyua, who is also abled differently.

She was speaking at the Nyahururu stadium during a fun day organized by athletes and other well-wishers to mobilize resources in support of poor parents who are bringing up children living with disabilities. 

She also called for adequate funding of special schools to make education affordable to people living with disabilities. 

She said it is expensive to educate a child with a disability hence the need to establish a special fund to support special schools instead of the institutions collecting fees from the students. 

She also called out the county governments for failing to ensure the sporting facilities are friendly to people living with disabilities. 

Ms Munyua lamented that it is unfortunate that most functions held in counties do not consider people with disabilities, particularly those with hearing impairment. 

John Kimeria, a well-wisher who attended the fun day said the Persons with Disability Act should be audited to check if it has been achieving its purpose since its establishment. 

The Act was established in 2003 to ensure equity for people with disabilities. A person with Disabilities amendment bill was tabled in parliament in 2020 and awaits enactment into law.

Courtesy ;K. N. A