Women and girls living with disabilities in Kwale County are increasingly accessing justice, healthcare, and social services through a toll-free helpline initiative known as Mama Siri, disability rights advocates have said.
The initiative, run by This Ability Trust Kenya, targets persons with disabilities (PWDs) who often face systemic barriers when seeking essential services. Through the helpline, beneficiaries receive referrals, guidance, and information to help them navigate institutions and claim their rights.
Speaking during a sensitisation forum held at Kanana Social Hall in Lunga Lunga Sub-County, the project lead, Ms Tauhida Salim—popularly known as Mama Siri—said the service enables women and girls with disabilities to report challenges and obtain timely support.
“Mama Siri is a toll-free number that people living with disabilities can call whenever they face challenges or require specific services. We then guide them on where and how to get help,” Salim said.
She explained that the helpline complements other programmes implemented by This Ability Trust Kenya, including Paza, a platform that amplifies the voices of persons with disabilities, and Hesabika, a digital registration system that allows women and men with disabilities to dial *548# to be counted and documented.
For communication accessibility, Salim said the organisation uses 0800 000 300 as the main Mama Siri helpline, while members of the deaf community can communicate through text messaging using 0799 000 300.
Salim further revealed that the organisation has developed four key policy recommendations it is advocating for adoption by the government. These include increasing employment opportunities for women with disabilities, particularly in the health sector; adopting digital systems for collecting disability data; training Community Health Promoters on disability inclusion; and ensuring that women with disabilities are allowed to make independent decisions regarding their lives and health.
She noted that outreach activities in Kwale County have led to a significant increase in the registration of persons with disabilities under the organisation’s programmes.
“Our registration has increased by about 20 per cent in these areas, with approximately 16 per cent of persons with disabilities now registered,” she said.
The Mama Siri initiative currently operates in 12 counties, including Kwale, Mombasa, Nairobi, Kilifi, Kisumu, Kakamega, Kajiado, Narok, Wajir, Isiolo, Marsabit, and Mandera. Salim said there are plans to expand the programme to 20 counties by January 2026, subject to the availability of funding.
Participants at the forum highlighted persistent challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing healthcare services. Ms Mwanamtama Muradhi, a human rights defender and project champion in Kwale County, said women with disabilities are often denied autonomy in healthcare settings.
“Women with disabilities are frequently denied the right to make decisions about their reproductive health, with parents or caregivers making decisions on their behalf,” Muradhi said.
She also cited structural barriers in health facilities, including inaccessible sanitation facilities, high maternity beds, and the lack of sign language interpreters, which hinder effective service delivery.
Beneficiaries of the Mama Siri programme said the toll-free service has improved access to information, referrals, and support. Ms Lucy Erick from Shimoni said the helpline provides crucial guidance to persons with disabilities facing challenges such as gender-based violence.
Similarly, Ms Mauwa Suleiman from Msambweni said the initiative has empowered women with disabilities by increasing awareness of their rights and available support services.
By Chari Suche
