Over 500 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Kericho County have been issued with a new generation of disability cards which is part of the reforms affected in the registration process.

The new process was implemented  following the launch of the new registration system during the UN Disability Day last year.

 National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) says the reforms are meant to curb fraud, bring the service closer to the people and also provide accurate socio-economic data on persons with disabilities in Kenya.

 The new disability card identifies a Person living with a disability which can be a physical, sensory, mental, or other impairment, including any visual, hearing, learning, or physical limitations that impact adversely on social, economic, or environmental participation, according to the Person with Disability Act of 2003.

 The Kericho County Senior Disabilities Officer Hellen Tuei explained that the disability card serves as an alternative to carrying around paperwork as proof of being entitled to access certain activities, services, and programmes.

 “The National Council of Persons with Disabilities is mandated to safeguard persons with disabilities, which is a necessary process to ensure recognition of persons with disabilities and it is a continuous exercise where adults and children are all registered,” said Ms Tuei.

 Ms Tuei however said her office grappled with the challenge of insufficient audiograms for assessing persons with hearing impairments in order to be qualified as disabled and be issued a disabilities card. She spoke during the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with disabilities held at Kericho vocational Rehabilitation Centre Friday.