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Persons With Disabilities (PWD) in Trans Nzoia County have petitioned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to protest against the gazettement of nominated Members of County Assembly (MCAs).

Their chairperson Ojiambo Opis said no PWD was nominated among eight people picked by various political parties in the county.

“The recently released list of nominated MCAs excluded us and we feel we will have nobody to champion for our interests in this county assembly. We wanted to have one of our own in the assembly but it is very unfortunate they did not value us,” Opis said.

Hellen Nana, a disabled woman who vied for Saboti ward MCA seat on the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) said despite supporting party activities, they were disappointed when the political parties nominated other people.

“My party DAP-K asked me to step down in favour of my competitor in the party. I respected the advice after they promised to nominate me to represent the disabled in the County Assembly of Trans Nzoia. The party betrayed my loyalty,” Nana said.

Persons with disabilities to move to court

Tom Juma, a PWD, said they will proceed to Kitale Law Court to seek a stay order of swearing in of all the 33 MCAs of Trans Nzoia County.

“I used close to Ksh50,000 applying for the nomination slot. My name was there in all the previous lists but I was shocked neither my name nor my colleagues were gazetted by IEBC. We shall be going to court next week so that the swearing-in of MCAs can be suspended until our grievances are addressed,” Juma said.

He further asked President William Ruto to step in and help them get their rightful share in the county assembly of Trans Nzoia.

“My President and party leader should know this because we feel we have been discriminated against. It is our right to have a representative in the assembly and we, therefore, demand for our share,” he added.

Ann Njoki, a representative of the people living with disabilities in Bidii Ward, said it is against the provisions of the constitution to discriminate against them in both elective and appointive positions.

“Just like other Kenyans who do not have disabilities, we have the right to be included in the government. The best person to articulate our issues is a person with a disability,” Njoki said.