People living with various disabilities in Machakos County have been told to accept their conditions and positively move on with life.
Joseph Katumo, nominated MCA at Machakos County Assembly, encouraged people living with disabilities to agitate for their rights and opportunities in various organizations, institutions, corporate, county and national governments.
Katumo said the majority of those living with disabilities in Machakos county have shut themselves from the world thereby languishing in their own misery.
The representative of disabled persons at the assembly addressed the press at Miu in Mwala, Machakos County on Monday.
He said there are many opportunities set aside for the disabled persons which end up unutilized since no one claims them.
Katumo disclosed that most of such people have refused to accept their conditions thereby making it hard to be helped.
"You find someone was born normal, maybe got engaged in an accident that rendered him disabled and since then, he hasn't accepted his fate," Katumo said.
He said most of the disabled persons have many abilities even more than a normal person.
Simon Kyengo, one of the disabled persons told the residents that he did not lose hope even after he got involved in an accident.
"I'm a cobbler, I sew shoes since even if I have no legs my hands are active. I have never let my condition define me," Kyengo said.
Katumo advised those living with disabilities in Machakos County to register in groups so as to benefit from opportunities and funds meant for them.
"If you lock yourself away from people, you won't get help and you will keep condemning the world for your condition, there are many people out there who hold high positions and earn a lot despite their conditions. Disability is not inability," Katumo said.
He noted that the privileges and opportunities set aside for the disabled are not for sympathy but because they too are equal beings on earth.