Nandi Leaders Urge Parents to Stop Hiding Children with Disabilities
She urged the county government to provide the necessary support, including these essential devices, to promote independence and improve daily living.
An image showing children with different disabilities playing with others freely. Photo/European Disability Forum.
By Juliet Jerotich
Leaders from Nandi County have issued a passionate call to parents, urging them to stop hiding children living with disabilities and instead include them in community programs and development initiatives.
Speaking during a community outreach visit in Himaki, Brigid Songok, the Member of County Assembly (MCA) representing Persons Living with Disabilities, expressed concern over the increasing reports of families concealing children with disabilities.
She emphasized that disability is not a curse and called on residents to change their attitudes.
“I want to urge the people of Nandi County that disability is not a curse. We were all created by God, and every child deserves love, support, and care. Let us stop the act of hiding children with disabilities—they need community support,” said Songok.
Songok further stated that persons with disabilities have equal rights like every other citizen, including the right to access assistive devices such as wheelchairs and crutches.
She urged the county government to provide the necessary support, including these essential devices, to promote independence and improve daily living.
“These devices are crucial to their functionality. They empower people with disabilities to be more independent and contribute actively to society,” she noted.
The MCA also commended President William Ruto for recently signing into law the Persons Living with Disabilities Act, 2025. She described it as a landmark step toward protecting and advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Act aligns with key constitutional provisions—Articles 2(6), 27, 54, and 260—as well as international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Nandi County Assembly Majority Leader, Walter Teno, who accompanied Songok during the visit, reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to supporting residents with disabilities.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to provide inclusive services and create economic opportunities for this marginalized group.
The leaders made the remarks during a visit to Alice Chepkoech, a resident of Himaki living with a disability, where they donated a wheelchair and foodstuffs.
The county leadership emphasized that inclusion, dignity, and equal opportunity for all—especially persons living with disabilities—remain a top priority in Nandi County’s development agenda.
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