By Andanje Wakhungu
Safaricom foundation has donated wheelchairs, crutches and Physiotherapy equipment to a disability center in Malava sub-County.
The initiative was realized after a nongovernmental organization known as Well spring forwarded a proposal to the communication giant seeking assistance for the centre.
The move is part of the foundation’s many corporate social responsibility (CSR) it has been providing across Kakamega County with education, environment and health being their main target.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony, the Kakamega branch customer experience executive Mr. Joseph Holmes Ibomba cited that the foundation has been in the recent past involved in revamping schools in Shinyalu, Vihiga, Lugari, Navakholo and now Malava sub counties where they have been equipping schools with desks, lockers and other necessities that meant to improve and sustain learning in the institutions.
He said the foundation was committed to assisting the locals noting that many schools have been neglected by the leaders and were in bad shape.
He assured the Kabras disability centre members that it was only a beginning of their long journey of partnership with them adding that the foundation was committed to assisting the persons living with disability, youths women and other vulnerable groups.
“I’m calling on the management of Well spring under the patronage of Caleb Sunguti to keep following our website for more upcoming CSR events and do not hesitate to forward their proposal for more assistance”.
The chairperson for people living with disabilities (PLWD’s) in Kakamega county Lucy Mulombi who is also in charge of the Malava sub county PLDW’s called on the foundation to continue supporting them as there was a very large number of disabled persons depending on the centre despite many of its projects stalling or failing to kick off due to lack of technical knowhow.
“This place was put up by the World Bank at a tune of 5.73 Million and is attached to over 300 PLWD’s members drawn from all the disability classes, but our income generating project such as the hatchery has collapsed after the machines broke down, the shoe making, sweater knitting are still lying idle as our members lack technical know how to operate them.” She said
The chairperson also observed that people living with disability were still undergoing discrimination and stigmatization from the public.
Well Spring organization patron Caleb Sunguti said he will continue advocating for the rights of the PLWD to ensure that they also access equal services and rights like any other Kenyan.
“I started off in 2016 and through this project I have been able to take to school 26 children who are currently in form two and I have also been able to distribute over 18 wheel chairs to PLWD in Kabras. Our partnership with Safaricom foundation is an eye opener showing us how far we should go in as far as assisting the vulnerable groups”
Sunguti said many of the PLWD issues have been neglected and many have had their rights trampled upon.
“As Well spring we are empowering them to the fullest and we will be scouting for many more friends and even companies like West Kenya and Butali Sugar to come in and assist in terms of clothing, foodstuffs, subsidized seeds and fertilizer, cutleries among many more.
“I am pushing for this course and once elected as your next MP I will put up a state of the art rehabilitation centre with boarding facilities for those neglected and homeless.
