Governor George Natembeya says his administration will invest more in developing facilities at schools for learners with special needs n the region.
He says all learners must be enabled to access schools and other facilities that are developed for easy use by those living with disabilities.
“We are working to ensure our schools for children with special needs are well equipped with necessary facilities to support education for the affected learners”, he said.
Read Also
Natembeya spoke when he presided over the commissioning and handover of Mitoto Vocational Training Centre to the County Department of Education.
The facility was funded by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through Deutsches Blindenhilfswerk, Ananse and Salus Oculi Kenya.
The centre has two dormitories, five classrooms, a kitchen and dining hall, and an ablution block, and can host up to more than 100 boys and girls.
"This facility is one of its kind in this region, and it is going to help empower our students living with these challenges," Natembeya said.
He said through collaboration with various partners, they had been able to establish a world-class facility here. We are now looking into how to expand it further, including purchasing more land."
The Governor said the centre stands for the county's conviction that disability should never limit ambition, and that every learner carries talent and potential worth nurturing.
"In the coming years, this will be a centre of excellence for learners living with visual impairment, not just for Trans Nzoia, but for the wider region," he said.
Kiminini Ward MCA Joshua Amwai said the project began with the county buying the land before development partners came on board to complete it.
"We collaborated with the county executive and were able to purchase this land. It was a gesture of hope that we would create something iconic, but our resources were not sufficient. Brick by brick, we built a perimeter wall, not knowing that we would later partner with development partners who shared our vision," Amwai said.
He credited Safaricom Foundation helping to construct and equip three classrooms and an office worth Sh5 million.
Other partners include Step 30 International Ministries, which drilled a borehole worth Sh3 million, and SUPKEM, which also sank a borehole for the facility..
Kilimanjaro Foundation, the National Fund for the Disabled Kenya and individual donors also gave equipment such as computers, orbit readers and knitting machines worth Sh1.3 million.
"Because of these partners, Mitoto is now iconic a centre of excellence and a sanctuary for our students who are abled differently," Amwai said.
Trans Nzoia County Executive Committee Member for Education and Vocational Training, Janerose Mutama, thanked the development partners, saying their support went beyond bricks and equipment.
Due to improved facilities enrollment to VTCs has increased to over 4,000 learners
Ends
