A mini-gymnasium for people living with physical disabilities is currently under construction at the Afraha stadium grounds in Nakuru town.
The gym will have training facilities, a changing room and a pitch for sitting volleyball – a game played by people with physical challenges.
The ground-breaking ceremony of the construction of the gymnasium was conducted last week by Nakuru County’s sports executive, Catherine Kitetu.
The construction has been sponsored by a group of European-based philanthropists, known as Projects Abroad, and will be completed in less than a month.
Over 20 of the philanthropists, from the UK, attended the ground-breaking event as were MCAs Emma Mbugua and Joshua Mureithi, who represent people living with disabilities.
The coach of the Nakuru Sports Youth Association, Dickson Gateri, expressed gratitude at the sponsorship on behalf of the county’s sitting volleyball team.
Ward representative Mbugua said the project would provide great relief to local youth, especially those with disabilities, by keeping them off drug abuse, alcoholism and HIV-Aids related consequences.
The team’s chairman, Nicholas Muchemi, and executive committee member Richard Tirop said he team was formed in June last year and the officials aim to make it attain international standards and compete in sitting volleyball events worldwide by tapping local talents.
MCA Mbugua said Sh25 million has been set aside for each ward’s development with Sh1 million being allocated to each ward in Nakuru County for people living with disabilities. She encouraged registered member-groups to go for the funds.
Mureithi also suggested that an inter-wards completion for people living with disabilities be started so as to tap latent talent in youth for sports and leadership abilities.