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SPEECH BY H.E. HON. JAMES E.O.

ONGWAE, CBS, EBS, OGW,


GOVERNOR, KISII COUNTY DURING INAUGURATION OF THE
PERSONS WITH DISABILITY FUND COUNTY MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE & LAUNCH OF THE CARD PRINTER AT THE CULTURE
HALL ON 22/02/2018

Ladies and gentlemen:

It gives me great pleasure to preside over the inauguration of the


1st Kisii County Persons with Disability Fund (PWD) Fund
Management committee that you have elected today.

I take the earliest opportunity to congratulate those elected to this


committee and wish you the best as you embark on the task
ahead.

I am glad to note that today we are operationalizing the card


printer and registration of the Persons with Disability (PWD) Savings
and Credit Cooperative Organization (Sacco).

I wish to let you know that I share in the vision of the National
Council of Persons with Disability of creating a barrier free society
for Persons with Disabilities.

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Indeed, disability is not inability and American athlete Martina
Navratilova says, disability is a matter of perception. If you can do
just one thing well, you are needed by someone. This is why, as a
County Government, we appreciate the contribution of Persons
with Disability to the socio-economic development of our County.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As you know, Persons with Disability issues is not a devolved


function. These issues are under National Government and the
National Council of Persons with Disability is the state corporation
mandated to coordinate all matters related to Persons with
Disability.

Since it is not a function assigned to County Governments, it is


difficult for us to engage directly with Persons with Disability.
Nonetheless, working with National Government officials on the
ground, we have mainstreamed Persons with Disability issues in the
County development agenda.

Our first step was to support the establishment of the Kisii County
Persons with Disability Welfare Association, which is headed by a
president.
Through engagements with this umbrella organization, we have
supported Persons with Disability. We have established an office
within the County Government that coordinates and liaises with

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the National Council of People with Disability and other actors in
ensuring that we render services to our people.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

One of the challenges Persons with Disability faced is registration


where they were forced to travel to Nairobi for this service. We
purchased a card printer, the only one in the Western Kenya
region, to facilitate registration and identification of PWDs so they
can access preferential services including waiver of taxes and
duty.

Through their umbrella organization, Persons with Disability


requested that we secure office space for them. I am pleased to
inform you that soon this is going to be a reality. Recently, the
County Government was recognized by the County Pensions Fund
(CPF) for consistent growth in membership at the organization. As
part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, CPF has offered to
renovate a building to house the Persons with Disability offices.

Regarding employment, we have recruited a number of Persons


with Disability to serve in various levels within the County
Government and some of them are present with us today.

I am happy to report that since I appointed a liaison officer, a


Person with Disability, in the ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
we have been engaging effectively. To ensure Persons with

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Disability participate in governance and facilitate
communication, we employed a sign language interpreter to
ensure government officers and those with hearing impairment
communicate without hindrance.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Additionally, we have crafted policies to supplement National


Government programmes to enable us reach and serve more
Persons with Disability.

One such intervention is ensuring we comply with the


constitutional requirements on affirmative action where 30 per
cent of all procurement is reserved for youth, women and Persons
with Disability.

I challenge Persons with Disability to take advantage of the


Access to Government Procurement Opportunity (AGPO) and
apply for procurement opportunities in the County Government.
For those who have registered firms, please liaise with the Chief
Officer for Culture and Social Services for any support you may
need.

Ladies and gentlemen:

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I am also pleased to note that our plan to establish a Fund for
Persons With Disability has come to fruition. I believe we have now
created a framework to support persons with disability access
funds to set up and expand their enterprises hence lead
sustainable livelihoods. We hope you will use the funds to develop
yourselves and help shun the mentality of dependency and
vulnerability among PWDs.

However, it is important to note that there are various National


Government funds available for the support of entrepreneurship
and empowerment of vulnerable groups in the country. I urge you
all to apply and access them.

Some of these funds include;

 Uwezo Fund; a flagship programme for vision 2030 aimed at


enabling women, youth and Persons With Disability access
finances to promote businesses and enterprises at the
constituency level.

 Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) a fund established to provide


accessible and affordable credit to support women start
and/or expand business for wealth and employment
creation.

 Youth Enterprise Fund (YEF); established to end


unemployment among the youth.

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In our own ministry of Trade and Industry, we have a KShs.5 million
Joint Loans Board revolving fund, which gives grants for business
enhancement.

My Government has, in this financial year, established the KShs.33


million Kisii County Trade Credit Scheme, which is available to the
youth, women and Persons with Disability to enhance their
enterprises. However, you have to form enterprises or groups in
order to access these government funds.

Ladies and gentlemen:

I am aware that most of our buildings are not friendly for use by
Persons with Disability. My government is working towards
establishing PWD friendly facilities within our premises and all our
towns. I also urge the business community to embrace disability
friendly buildings and facilities.

Going forward, we shall seek greater collaboration with the


National Council of Persons with Disability to establish programs
that will provide opportunities for PWDs within this region.

My government has continued working and consulting with


national government officers at the county level to further
deepen services accorded to Persons with Disabilities.

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In conclusion, I would like to urge you to take advantage of this
fund, the card printer and the establishment of the Sacco to
undertake sustainable projects together so that we can lift people
with disability from need and want to ensure a dignified life.

I thank you! God Bless you!

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