People Living with Disabilities Want to be Included in Blue Economy Activities

By Robby Ngoba

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

People living with disabilities in Kilifi County have challenged the national and county governments to ensure their inclusion in the Blue Economy sector to enable them earn a living from the sea.

Speaking during a beach fun day for PWDs at Vidazini beach in Kilifi town, organized by the Disability With Ability (DIWA) and Basic Needs organizations, the PWDs led by National Heroine and Phylanthropist Matters Disability Susan Kitheka said that they felt neglected and that beaches were not accessible to them.

According to her she revealed that some of the 3,000 PWDs in Kilifi County would like to venture into fishing and other sea related economic activities but they lacked facilities that are friendly to them that will see them benefit from the blue economy.

“We are calling on both governments to cosider us on blue economy activities. In the previous year we’ve not seen this and we feel their are activities which can benefit us as well,” he sad.

She said that the government had not factored PWD needs when coming up with beach management plans such as providing facilities for them hence creating a huge gap in their inclusion.

County National Council for People With Disability (NCPWD) coordinator Mathias Tsuma said that the country had made strides in accepting and recognition of PWDs especially in legislation but little was being done to ensure implementation of the law.

He challenged PWDs to register with the national and county government so that they can be considered when it came to policy making and implementation of programs.

Kilifi North deputy county commissioner Samuel Mutisya on his part challenged parents with children living with disabilities to ensure they send their children to school.

He said that many parents especially those in remote areas were still hiding their children who live with disabilities hence denying them various opportunities in life.

The commissioner added that there was a need for equity and fairness when it came to job opportunities, sorting activities, tendering process in government and private entities and also inclusion in the political spaces.

“We have had this fun fair that involves people with disabilities organized by DIWA and it is a forum where we are sensitizing the community about inclusion of PWDs with every sector of our lives. I take this opportunity to urge parents who have kids living with disabilities not to shy away and hide them but ensure that they go to school,” said Mutisya.

He added that some people with disability had no documentation despite aging and that they were missing a lot of opportunities that are associated with PWDs.

“We have PWDs who are of aging but they don’t even have birth certificates and identity cards and that is because they have been hidden from the outside world, they are missing the opportunities, fairness and equity that they deserve,” he added.

At least 15 percent of the Kenyan population live with a disability which amounts to more than 8 million people.

Emily Kadzo, who represented the Office of the Kilifi County Attorney, said that the County government was implementing the new disability law which also gives PWDs opportunities to participate in sports, tendering processes and also business.

“Inclusion is provided for in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the County government of Kilifi has cascaded it down by enacting the disability act which is mirrored from the disability act of the national government and inclusion is paramount where PWDs are included in every aspect of life and governance because they are part of us and they should not feel like they have been sidelined,” she said.