Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga on Tuesday led a fact-finding mission to Olwa School for the Deaf in Nyakach Constituency, Kisumu County, where she also donated food supplies to support learners at the institution.
The visit was undertaken by her team from the Nyakamami Foundation in partnership with Mild May Kenya as part of ongoing efforts to assess the welfare and learning conditions of children with special needs across the county.
Olwa School for the Deaf currently serves about 60 learners, most of whom face significant challenges stemming from persistent funding gaps. The institution was formally registered in 2024 after being carved out of St Pius Olwa Primary School, where it had previously operated as a special unit.
Since its registration, the school has not received capitation funds from the Ministry of Education, a situation that has placed considerable strain on its day-to-day operations, including provision of food, learning materials and basic services.
Odinga acknowledged support from the Nyakach National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), which constructed and furnished four classrooms to improve the learning environment. She also noted that the National Fund for the Disabled in Kenya (NFDK) had built a twin dormitory at the institution.
Despite these interventions, critical gaps remain. Currently, both male and female learners share the same dormitory, raising concerns about privacy and safety and underscoring the urgent need for additional accommodation facilities.
The assessment further revealed other pressing needs, including access to clean and reliable water, construction of proper ablution blocks, and enhanced security infrastructure such as a perimeter fence and secure gate to ensure the safety of learners and staff.
Odinga emphasised the importance of sustainable and predictable funding, noting that many of the children enrolled at the school have been abandoned by parents or relatives and depend entirely on institutional care for their basic needs.
“My office is committed to engaging relevant ministries, state departments and stakeholders in education for children living with disabilities.
Through the Social Protection Department, Odinga’s team also distributed bags of food supplies to Kibos Special School, Kondele Police Station Child Protection Unit, Joyland Special School, Lutheran Special School, Onunga School for the Deaf and Buoye Baldi Early Childhood Development centre.
She said the food donations are intended to ease the burden on caregivers and institutions and to ensure that vulnerable children, including those with special needs and survivors of difficult circumstances, remain healthy, focused on learning, and supported in their growth and healing.
By Robert Ojwang’
