Governor Waiguru announces Business Permit Waiver for persons living with Disability
Kirinyaga County government has announced exemption of payment of single business permit for persons living with disability (PWD as an incentive to support their business ventures. Governor Anne Waiguru says that so far more than 300 PWDs have benefited from the waiver.
In a speech read on her behalf by Deputy Governor David Githanda during valentine’s day celebration with people living with disabilities at Kamiigua Polytechnic grounds, Waiguru said her administration is committed closing the disparities that exist between people living with disabilities and the general community. “This waiver is expected to act we are committed to narrowing and eventually closing the disparities that exist between people living with disabilities and the general community when it comes to opportunities in areas such as education, economic empowerment and political representation,” she said.
Waiguru said she has established a one-stop service desk- a replica of Huduma Center at county government level- on the ground floor at our headquarters to ensure that people living with disabilities are efficiently and effectively served. “The County Government recognizes the right of access to government services by every citizen. This will save PWDs the agony of having to move from one office to another in search of various services,” the governor said. Waiguru further asked people living with disabilities to enroll with the new National Council for Persons with Disabilities registration system so as to fully benefit with government’s programmes.
The Council of Governor’s chair said so far the county has registered more than 12,000 persons living with various disabilities. “In order to have accurate data to guide our planning and resource allocation for projects and programs for PWDs, we have been carrying out assessment and registration for them. I am appealing to those who are yet to be assessed to visit our Kerugoya County Referral Hospital for assessment. You can also look out for our outreach assessment programs like the one we are carrying out today,” she added.
The County government, through the Wezesha Kirinyaga Programme has supported over 20 groups of vulnerable and those living with disabilities into groups that have been funded to undertake income generating projects. She said to support PWDs in participating in socio-economic activities her administration has provided more than 1,500 people with assistive devices and items such as wheelchairs, clutches, white canes, mosquito nets and diapers. The governor said the county government has commenced the process of brailing of strategic documents and has already facilitated about 21 officers to acquire basic sign language skills to improve access to information.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Gender and Youth Millicent Wawira Ngari said the county government will be availing enhanced budget for provision of more devices to help PWDs in mobility. To mark valentine day, Governor Waiguru donated blankets, food stuff like rice, cooking oil, maize flour among others to the community. They also benefited from free medical screening, disability assessment and.
