Nairobi, 25th October 2024.
Nairobi City County’s Gender and Inclusivity Sub sector, in collaboration with Light for the World, and the United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), conducted a two-day training for 70 County officials on Inclusivity and Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities(PWDs).
The Officers drawn from different Departments including; Mobility and works, Human resource, Boroughs, Enforcement and Gender and Inclusivity were trained on Disability awareness, enhancing their understanding on the realities of intersectionality between Gender and disability and the need for inclusive approaches in the community.
Chief Officer for Gender and Inclusivity, Ms. Maryam Dahir, emphasized on the importance of giving opportunities to persons with disabilities. “True empowerment comes from giving people the tools they need to succeed and ensuring that no one is left behind. We are committed to creating an environment where people with disabilities can actively participate and access opportunities without facing exclusion or discrimination. Inclusion is about breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of belonging for all, so that no one feels left out because of their disability.” she stated.
Ms. Jane Gichure, Deputy Director for Gender emphasized on the need to work together to ensure persons with disabilities, through collaborations with various sectors, have access to opportunities so as to mainstream development processes. “We need to review the existing policies and ensure they are not just words on paper but are actively implemented to make life easier for people with disabilities. It is also important that we enhance service accessibility to persons with disabilities” She said.
Mr. Eric Ngondi, the Chairman for UDPK, addressed the importance of disability inclusion in the workplace. He said, “Inclusion is not about just allowing people with disabilities to exist in the same space, it is about ensuring they have access to the same opportunities and can contribute to society like anyone else.”
The workshop served as a vital step towards fostering a more inclusive society and highlighted the need for continued advocacy, policy change, and community engagement to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully integrated into every aspect of life. It concluded with a call to action for continued collaboration to ensure that the rights and dignity of people with disabilities are upheld across all sectors.
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