Kitui: Hope Mobility Kenya has partnered with the county government of Kitui to help bridge the immobility gap facing persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, as part of efforts geared towards improving mobility amongst the disabled, the initiative by Hope Mobility Kenya has donated 300 wheelchairs alongside other movement assistive devices. The much-needed initiative launch was presided over by Kitui County CECM for National Gender Equality, Disability and Social Services Phoebe Mutemi alongside Michael Panther, Founder of Hope Mobility Kenya.
The event also marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the County Government of Kitui and Hope Mobility Kenya to improve inclusion and mobility for PWDs. Sharing his personal journey, Michael Panther said he became disabled at age 10 due to illness during the South Sudan war. After a 2-year search for treatment, he reached Kijabe Hospital. The struggle took him to Machakos School for Disability Care, then to Nairobi and the US. ‘The struggle gave me a passion to start Hope Mobility Kenya which endeavours to breathe hope to the disabled, because it’s through hope that I got,’ he said.
Jack Muthui, Director of Hope Mobility Kenya, mentioned that the MoU will run for three years and will help provide services to People with Disabilities in Kitui County. Devices provided under the launch included wheelchairs, crutches, sunscreens for albinos, walking frames, and walking sticks to those in need to walk. He added that Hope Mobility Kenya will also conduct artisan trainings to maintain the wheelchairs for better, long-term service.
CECM Mutemi stated that the devices will enable PWDs to move, go to school, start businesses, and provide for families. She urged guardians to take children with disabilities to school and also encouraged PWDs to join support groups that offer tents and other social services. The county pledged to budget for PWD programs and build infrastructure that favours their needs, ensuring nobody is discriminated against on the basis of age, gender, and disability.
Under the MoU, Hope Mobility Kenya will supply the mobility equipment. Jack Muthui reminded beneficiaries that the devices are just like any other medical equipment. ‘You should come present yourself to pick and use them appropriately, you don’t give them to somebody else because they may affect them,’ he said.
Dr. Moses Saranta, Kitui regional coordinator of the National Gender Equality Commission (NGEC), thanked the county government of Kitui for giving time, resources, and energy to prioritize PWDs and for giving psychosocial support. He urged the Kitui government to ensure all government offices are accessible for PWDs and to provide the five percent employment opportunities reserved for them.
Agnes Ngila, a beneficiary, speaking to KNA, expressed that the wheelchair is a great help to her since she faced many struggles carrying her disabled baby. ‘This moving device will help my baby move around the compound and even go to school,’ she said. The county government and Hope Mobility Kenya said the partnership will continue beyond the ongoing distribution to ensure PWDs are not left behind in planning and implementation.
