Cases of persons living with disabilities (PLWD) from Tanzania being used as beggars in Kitale town, Trans Nzoia County, have raised concern among locals.
Scolastica Ingotsi, coordinator of PLWD from the Catholic Diocese of Kitale, has raised alarm on the issue that is also being witnessed in other towns across Western Kenya.
“We have noted a rise in the cases of begging by foreigners from Tanzania who frequent Kitale town with some coming from as far as Eldoret. They remit all the proceeds of the day to their masters,” Mr. Ingotsi said.
She stated that the vice is on the rise where unsuspecting residents give handouts in a get-rich-quick scheme. The act has created a bad impression where PLWD are deemed as beggars despite a spirited economic empowerment campaign that has seen most of them venture into business.
“This impression is wrong since the Catholic Church in Trans Nzoia has played a huge role in supporting PLWD through socioeconomic empowerment initiatives,” she said at an event in Kwanza Constituency, Kitale.
In addition to that, she addressed the issue of public health facilities failing to stock medicine for the management of health conditions by patients who live with disabilities despite the church having enrolled a good number of them under the NHIF Fund.
The group also called upon the government to ensure all buildings in the region are disability-compliant for easy access to services offered.
FK Zack is a talented sports journalist and analyst who writes excellently in Kiswahili.
