County governments have been urged to remove levies and taxes for people living with disabilities to help them improve their livelihoods.

Speaking in Mukurwe-ini on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, during the World Disability Day celebrations, Nyeri County MP Rahab Mukami said that scrapping such charges would enable persons living with disabilities to uplift themselves economically by engaging in small businesses.

“I’m urging the Nyeri County Government to set an example by implementing this measure so that other counties can follow suit. By doing so, we will be empowering them to start their own businesses,” Mukami said.

She also called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ensure that people living with disabilities are provided with voter registration services.

“So many people living with disabilities are yet to register as voters. IEBC officials should organise ways to register them to ensure they are not locked out of exercising their democratic right to choose their leaders,” she added.

Meanwhile, Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia has called on the government to be accountable and fulfil its promise to persons living with disabilities that they would receive SHA services free of charge, a commitment that has yet to be met, leaving many continuing to suffer.

“When this programme was introduced, I was convinced to increase my monthly contribution from Sh1,700 to Sh38,000 so that the government could take care of the disabled and other vulnerable groups in society. I am, however, very disappointed that this money has not been used for that purpose,” Kaguchia said.

He added that, to date, people living with disabilities are still required to pay for SHA services for an entire year before benefiting from the programme.

“We have people who need medical services and drugs, and those who require constant attention in hospitals, yet they continue to pay for these services. So many of them are suffering under this programme called SHA,” he said.

Kaguchia urged the government to release funds meant to cover services for people living with disabilities, the vulnerable, and the poor in society, noting that the money has already been deducted from citizens’ payslips.

He also called on the government to prioritise increasing cash transfer funds for the elderly and persons with disabilities, saying the current amount is insufficient.

“The budget allocated for cash transfers for persons with disabilities is too little compared to how much money the government spends on luxury, unnecessary activities, harambees, and unimportant empowerment programmes.

If those funds were redirected to cash transfers, people with disabilities would be able to afford decent lives,” he said.