Raila promises more jobs, public tenders to people with disabilities

Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga yesterday promised to double the number of public service employees living with disabilities if he is elected President in August.

Speaking when he met hundreds of persons living with disabilities at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Raila said his government will ensure they are treated with dignity and awarded more public tenders.

He said he will ensure they access more employment opportunities if he is elected the country’s fifth president.

The former Premier also said all learners with disabilities in public institutions would be exempt from paying fees.

Free education

“I will review the Persons with Disability Act, 2003 to increase employment of PWDs in public institutions from five per cent to 10 per cent. President Raila Odinga will push the government to offer free education to all PWDs in public schools, colleges and universities,” he said.

Raila also promised to tax exempt disabled workers.

“People who are disabled have a role to play in our society and they should be enabled to perform. This we will do as a matter of course. We will work together with people with disabilities because there is a big potential and we are determined to ensure each and every PWD is given an opportunity in the development of our country,” the Azimio leader said.

He also promised to split the Disability Fund into entrepreneurship and welfare kitties.

Raila said the disabled were yet to be properly appreciated in the country saying they were still fighting stigma and mobility challenges which he promised to address if he forms the next government.

“I will ensure inclusion of PWDs in boards, committees and councils in all public institutions such as schools, universities, colleges, parastatals and other government agencies,” said Raila, who also promised to include PWDs in his campaign teams.

Raila’s daughter, Rosemary, who accompanied him to the meeting, said his father had cared for her after she partially lost her sight from a stroke.

Raila, she said, understood the needs of people with disabilities.

Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi said his party would ensure most of the votes of the disabled go to Raila.

“We are going to rally all the PWDs to vote for Raila. We will support the person who cares about our plight,” said the MP who lives with disability.