Nakuru: People with disabilities in Nakuru are set to benefit from a Sh27.5 million fund for the 2025/2026 financial year. The county government has operationalized this fund to support income-generating activities for the disability community.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nakuru was the first county to launch such a fund in 2019, following the establishment of a legal framework by the County Assembly. County Secretary Dr. Samuel Mwaura announced plans to develop a monitoring framework to ensure the effective implementation of the fund, ensuring that commitments made to persons with disabilities (PWDs) are fulfilled.
Dr. Mwaura’s remarks came during a consultative meeting with PWD representatives and caregivers, held shortly after protests by the disability community over delays in the fund’s disbursement. Protesters accused Governor Susan Kihika’s administration of withholding Sh27.5 million meant for the Nakuru County Persons with Disabilities Fund for 2025/2026, and raised concerns over budget omissions for the following financial year.
In response to the protests, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Youth, Sports, Gender, and Social Services, Elga Riaga, defended her department’s efforts. She acknowledged the disbursement delays but affirmed that her office had fulfilled its responsibilities, including appointing and gazetting PWD committee members and expediting the publication of PWD regulations.
Riaga further explained that her office had requested the transfer of funds to the PWD’s account at Family Bank, but this request was not actioned. During the meeting, County Secretary Mwaura encouraged PWD representatives to engage in public forums to influence county planning and budgeting effectively.
Chief Officer for Economic Planning Dr. Victor Achoka confirmed that the county would incorporate the fund into the supplementary budget, with allocation proceedings expected to commence next month. Achoka emphasized that the allocation would adhere to the budgetary process and could take several months before beneficiaries receive the funds.
The county’s 2025/2026 Annual Development Plan aimed to disburse Sh27.5 million through the disability fund, but delays in regulatory processes resulted in zero disbursement. The 2026/2027 development plan retains the Sh27.5 million allocation, intending to provide assistive devices to PWDs.
The meeting, attended by various county officials, focused on addressing PWD representatives’ concerns and clarifying the fund’s status. The County Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to establish the Nakuru County Persons Living with Disabilities Fund, ensuring county budget allocations support PWD welfare and mandate proper financial record-keeping.
At the national level, Kenya’s Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, mandates the participation of PWDs in public affairs and requires public offices to establish disability mainstreaming units. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reported a national disability prevalence of 2.2 percent in the 2019 Census, highlighting the need for accessible social protection and livelihood programs.
The national government supports PWDs through the Persons with Severe Disability Cash Transfer program, while Nakuru’s county-level interventions offer additional support. In January 2026, a partnership facilitated the distribution of mobility aids to over 500 PWDs in Nakuru.
The county’s planned supplementary budget process will determine the allocation and disbursement of the Sh27.5 million fund. The monitoring framework proposed by the County Secretary aims to track the fund’s implementation, ensuring the PWD community receives financial assistance and participates in economic activities, promoting independence and inclusion.
