Over 40 people living with disabilities in Nyamira South Sub-County have been assisted with business equipment worth Sh850, 000 by the National Fund for the Disabled in Kenya (NFDK).
Presiding over the handing over of the equipment early Monday morning, Erick Nyaribo, one of the officials said that the equipment is meant to enable the beneficiaries become self reliant.
“The beneficiaries are being assisted to set up their own small businesses to enable them earn a living, and stop begging on the streets,” he said.
Nyaribo said that this year alone, they have spent over Sh60 million to supply people living with disabilities with various items across the country.
Some of the donations included saloon, barber and carpentry equipment, welding and sewing machines, and mobility items like wheel chairs and tricycles.
The official added that that there is need for a paradigm shift to stop empowering the disabled physically with only mobility items without cash to also help them establish income generating activities.
He added that they will be engaging the political class in the region so that they can mobilize funding to assist people living with disabilities.
The beneficiaries could not hide their joy with Catherine Mogotu, who received saloon equipment, saying that she will now be able to support herself and stop being a bother to other family members.
“I would like to thank NFDK for the donations. My advice to disabled people is to stop begging in the streets and strive to earn their own money,“ she added.