We are ready to mainstream the issue of people with Disabilities in Kisumu, DG says.
By Dickson Odhiambo.
November 5, 2018.
We are ready to
mainstream the issue of people with Disabilities in Kisumu, DG says.
THE County Government of Kisumu has reiterated its full
commitment in mainstreaming the issues of people with disabilities within the
County.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Ochieng Owili says
currently the county Government has embarked on mainstreaming the issues of
People with Disabilities within the various departments of the County
Government of Kisumu.
Addressing a meeting of the United Nations committee of
experts on Rights of persons with Disabilities and International Disability Alliance
delegation today at the Governor’s Boardroom, Dr. Owili said already the county
is implementing the Disability Act that was passed in the year 2016.
Dr. Owili says Kisumu County is the only county in the
Country which has passed the Disability Act and this is a major milestone.
He adds that other counties have started emulating Kisumu
County on the issue of having a disability Act in place.
The Deputy Governor says one of the issues which the
Disability Act seeks to address is reduction of the level poverty among the
people with disabilities.
Dr. Owili says part of the Act also advocates for the people
with disability to have better living standards as well as the issue of their
health care.
The Deputy Governor says the Act also addresses the issue of
procurement and getting various business opportunities by people with
disabilities within the county Government of Kisumu.
“We are very serious with the issue of disabilities
mainstreaming in Kisumu County Government within its various department and our
Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o is very serious about this,” Dr. Owili says.
He adds that there is need to get support from donors so as
to help in mainstreaming the issues of people with disabilities in Kisumu
County.
“For now we have just told our partners that we need to be
supported on the issues of mainstreaming issues of people with disabilities in
this county,” Dr. Owili adds.
The Special delivery Unit in charge of Disability rights
project under the office of Kisumu Governor’s Office Caroline Agwanda says the
Kisumu County Disability Act is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals
and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities.
She says to fully mainstream the issues of persons with
disabilities, there must be legislations to support it fully.
Today’s meeting with the County Government of Kisumu was
meant to discuss about how far the County has localized the United Nations
Conventions on Rights of Persons with Disability and Sustainable Development Goals
{SDGs} in Kisumu County.
Among the issues discussed include milestones, gaps and way forward
in mainstreaming and inclusion of issues for persons with disability in county Government
policies, programs and Legislation in Kisumu County.
The Team of Experts from International Disability Alliance {IDA}
and UN Committee of Experts on Disability also shared with the County
Government of Kisumu about advancement and changes in implementation of the UN
convention on Rights of Persons with Disability and the Sustainable Development
Goals in Kisumu County and Kenya as a whole.
ENDS:
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