Kenya seeks to improve welfare of marginalized communities

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday reiterated the government's commitment to improve the welfare of the marginalized communities in the country including the persons with disabilities. Odinga said the government was keen on removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all, adding that this was necessary to enable the country realize her Vision 2030 aspirations. "A holistic approach is required to ensure a successful implementation of such laws. Clear measures on education, ICT, employment, political participation, economic empowerment, transport, healthcare and security, among others, need to be implemented and prioritized," Odinga said during the Prime Minister's round table for persons with disabilities in Nairobi. Odinga said that it's disheartening that persons with disabilities have been relegated and denied their place in national development since the country attained independence 50 years ago. But the PM lauded the constitution of Kenya 2010 that has mandated the inclusion of the disability agenda as part and parcel of the mainstream public policy discourse. However, Odinga observed that policies and laws in themselves are not enough. They need champions. The PM said it is a matter of grave concern that as the country approaches the Millennium Development Goals year of 2015, the link between poverty and disability has not been fully addressed. "As Prime Minister, I have always felt the disabled need to be enabled to serve our country and to realize their dreams," Odinga said. He pointed out that a scrutiny of the country's public service and private sector reveals how people with disabilities are still marginalized in employment and or promotion. Odinga revealed that he was able to push for the release of 2. 35 million U.S. dollars that was allocated to the National Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities to try and address some of the challenges that persons with disabilities face. He said that although this was a good start more allocation needs be done in order to devolve service delivery to persons living disabilities across the country. The prime minister pledged to push for reforms that will ensure rights of the disabled persons are fully addressed. "That is why I created the position of special interest group advisor to take charge of this important constituency and to sell their agenda to the entire coalition." Odinga pointed out that his party has steadily supported the appointment of many persons with disabilities in various public positions such as Kibaya Laibuta of the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution, Dr. Samuel Tororei in the National Land Commission. The prime minister said that the country needs a political commitment that will pursue a policy plan that will reverse the sidelining of people with disabilities. "Going forward we need a political commitment that will pursue a policy agenda that I believe will overturn the marginalization of people with disabilities," he said.