Over 300 persons with disabilities (PLWDs) from Kiambu County are a relieved lot after they received wheelchairs from Thika town MP Patrick Wainaina through his Jungle Afya programme.
This comes as a huge boost to the group who had almost given up after an event to donate the wheelchairs on Friday last week was cancelled at the last minute by a senior Government official from the County.
After the cancellation, Wainaina accused the county leadership of sabotage, saying there has been a sustained interference with his programmes and projects meant to benefit Wananchi.
The move was also attributed to power battles between Kiambu Governor James Nyoro and the MP who is said to be keen to oust Nyoro in 2022.
The two leaders have clashed in the past after boda boda sheds which the MP had put up in various parts of the County were pulled down by county government askaris, with Nyoro claiming that the MP should stick to his mandate and jurisdiction.
However, the MP has remained undeterred in his quest to empower the needy saying the donations are not politically motivated.
During yesterday’s event at Ndenderu, the MP said the donations would benefit PWDs in Kikuyu, Githunguri and Kabete Sub Counties, adding, the equipment would come in handy in preventing them from contracting Covid-19, by ensuring they do to touch surfaces contaminated by the virus.
He said the donations are not enough and that county and national governments should come up with empowerment programmes to enable them make a living.
“We also ask the public and private sector to ensure that all their departments have at least one PLWD. Again they should benefit from government tenders as a right,” said Wainaina.
Eunice Wangui, one of the PLWDs, said the mobility equipment would enable her to access the market and start some business.
“We feared that from the aborted event last week, we won’t get wheelchairs. However, we are relieved that we now are able to move around and do business,” she said.
By Muoki Charles
