As a way to help raise awareness and also support their needs religious and community groups in Nyahururu town and its environs have called for inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
According to a section of both Government and community leaders emphasized the need to raise awareness about children with intellectual disabilities and for parents to identify them early.
Chairperson of the L’arche Kenya Board, Ms. Cecilia Ndegwa and Nyandarua North Deputy County Commissioner Ms. Angeline Were emphasized the need to support such people as well embracing them as a community.
The government, community and religious leaders spoke in Nyahururu during a 5km walk organized by L’arche Kenya in collaboration with other community groups to raise funds to support intellectually disabled persons.
Ms. Were noted that children with intellectual disabilities have very special talents and need to be embraced and supported.
Her sentiments were echoed by Nyandarua Nominated MCA Joyce Munyua who also represents people with disabilities at the Nyandarua County Assembly who noted that lack of opportunities was a major challenge to such persons.
Ms. Munyua underscored the need to embrace such persons and also the need to involve them in community work saying this also helps the victims to feel as part of the community.
The leaders observed that despite numerous campaigns to ensure Persons with disabilities are properly taken care of and that proper legislations are implemented to safeguard their rights, the majority of them are neglected and mishandled.
The leaders called for inclusion of people living with disabilities in key decision-making organs in both the government and private sector in order to help address the challenges they face on a daily basis.
By Kimani Tirus
