Shidiye demands fair access to services and jobs for PWDs in Garissa

Garissa governor aspirant Mohamed Shidiye shares a light moment with a beneficiary of the tricycle wheelchair /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Some of the PWDs from Garissa who benefited from tricycle wheelchairs /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Garissa Governor aspirant Mohamed Shidiye, philanthropists Rebecca Bor, and assistant county commissioner Cornelius Mbithi. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Some of the tricycle wheelchairs /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Galbet MCA Abubakar Khalif speaks at the event /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

A Garissa governorship aspirant has called for increased support and equal opportunities for people living with disabilities.

Former Lagdera MP Mohamed Shidiye said more needs to be done to guarantee their inclusion in key sectors of development.

Shidiye, who became a person with a disability following an accident several years ago, said as long as PWDs are not guaranteed fair access to employment, funding, and quality education, Kenya still has a long way to go in achieving equality.

He spoke during the donation of 60 tricycle wheelchairs by philanthropists Rebecca Bor and Hassan Mwangi, aimed at improving mobility among beneficiaries.

The donation was made by Shidiye, philanthropists Rebecca Bor and Hassan Mwangi.

Shidiye said the number of PWDs in Northeastern is significant, although accurate figures are yet to be established.

“It is time we have reliable data so that this group can receive the support and resources they deserve,” he said.

Shidiye said, unlike their counterparts in other regions, PWDs in the Northeast face unique challenges, including poor road infrastructure that limits movement and a shortage of schools equipped for learners with disabilities.

The former MP also urged parents and guardians of children born with disabilities not to hide them, saying doing so denies them their rights and dignity.

“Let us all embrace persons with disabilities because they are our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles and aunties. No one chooses to be disabled; it can happen to anyone. Let us love them, assist them, and ensure they live decent lives because they are only abled differently,” he said.

The aspirant pledged to prioritise the needs of PWDs if elected governor, promising to include them in his administration.

He encouraged them to register for national identification and as voters to enable them to elect leaders of their choice.

“They say the wearer of the shoe knows where it pinches. Being a person with a disability, I want to assure you that, God willing, when I become governor, this group will form part of my administration and I will prioritise their needs,” Shidiye said.

Bor said the responsibility of supporting PWDs should not fall solely on the government. She urged NGOs, well-wishers, and members of the public to play their part.

“We all have a role to play in ensuring this group lives a decent life and does not feel neglected in any way. One does not have to do big things; it is the small acts at a personal level that matter,” she said.

Dadaab MCA Mohamed Farah, while thanking the donors, challenged other NGOs and well-wishers to come on board, noting the number of people in need of support remains high.

He urged the community to end stigma against persons with disabilities, terming it the biggest impediment to their growth and empowerment.