Physically challenged person in Kisumu appeals to get back his Business container

Harmmon Otieno, business in Kisumu explains a point to the Director of Kisumu Action for Disability Development Network near the place he has doing business where his container was demolished last night.He has appealed to the County Government of Kisumu to get back the container to the place because he was placed there as a special case-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

By Dickson Odhiambo

Physically challenged person in Kisumu appeals to get back his Business container

A middle aged man in Kisumu who is a person with disability has appealed to the County Government of Kisumu to have back his container to a place he has been doing business since early 90s.

Harmmon Otieno says his container that was funded by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities {NCPD} was last evening demolished near Equity Bank along Oginga Odinga Street by Kisumu City Inspectorate Askaris.

Speaking to the press today at his place of work near Alpha House and Equity Bank, Otieno claims that a senior officer at the Directorate of City Inspectorate called him via his mobile number at around 5:30 pm telling him to remove his container without giving prior notice to do so.

He says it was late and could not remove the goods within the container where electronic gadgets were among other items, adding that he also runs an mpesa shop within the said ill-fated container.

Otieno who is also cobbler says it is now a sad thing that his business premise has been demolished despite the City Management allowed him to be there as a “special case” to do the business.

“Both the former and Current City Managers allowed me to be here as a special case and now my business is down after it was demolished last night without a prior notice,” Says Otieno.

Nick McOndwat who is the Director of the Kisumu Action Disability Development Network {KADDNET} has condemned the action terming it as harassment to persons with disabilities.

He says the County Government of Kisumu should provide an alternative place to people whose properties have been demolished.

“Mr Harmmon is a person with a family he is looking after hence the County Government should do something by relocating him to somewhere to do business if he can’t be maintained where he has been since 90s,” he says.

He says the County Government should also compensate him for the lose he has incurred during such demolition.

“As persons with disabilities in Kisumu County, we are not happy at all with what has happened to one of us whose business premise has been demolished. This is uncalled for and something must be done,” he adds.

ENDS