A group of persons with disabilities staged protests in Eldoret, demanding the release of Sh15 million allocated to them by the Uasin Gishu government. The funds, approved in the previous financial year, were meant for various activities and programmes aimed at improving their livelihoods. The protesters, led by nominated MCA Regina Chumba, petitioned Governor Jonathan Bii to intervene and ensure the release of the funds.
According to Regina Chumba, the money had been approved by the county assembly, and it was unclear why it had taken so long to reach the targeted groups. As an MCA, Chumba stated she played her role in pushing for the approval of the funding, and now it was up to the executive to ensure they received what was rightfully theirs. The protesters expressed frustration at having to stage a protest to get their rights.
The protesters had held several meetings with county officials to follow up on the release of the Sh15 million but without success. Fredrick Kipchumba, a representative of the group, said county officials were taking them in circles instead of simply releasing the money. The group also demanded employment opportunities, as many of them were qualified to serve in various fields but were denied a chance to do so.
Pastor Gordon Juma, a representative of PWDs, stated that the county was denying them employment opportunities despite many being qualified to serve in various fields. Abraham Tarus, a representative from Kapseret, said the county should release the funds to enable PWDs to access bursaries and other support programmes. The protesters also cited a recent report that the national government had spent Sh7.9 billion on programmes aimed at uplifting PWDs.
The protesters marched to the county headquarters but were not addressed by any official. They vowed to return to seek an audience with Governor Bii over the issue. The group emphasized that the funding was a right and not a favour, and they were also pushing to benefit from employment opportunities and procurement contracts as provided for by law.
Collins Kiprotich, a spokesperson for the group, said the matter was not political, but rather a fight for their rights. He asked the governor to ensure they were not subjected to such suffering, having to protest on the streets to get their rights. Uasin Gishu county secretary Phillip Melly said the issues raised by the group would be addressed by the county administration.
The protest highlights a wider gap between budgetary commitments and actual disbursement of support for persons with disabilities. The county executive’s response will be crucial in explaining the delay and clarifying how the allocation will reach the intended beneficiaries.
Key points
- The protesters demanded the release of Sh15 million allocated to them by the Uasin Gishu government.
- The group also demanded employment opportunities and access to procurement contracts.
- The county executive’s response will be crucial in resolving the issue.
