Persons living with disabilities in Uasin Gishu County have received fresh assurance from Governor Jonathan Bii that the money they have been demanding will be released within a month, following their public demonstrations over delayed funds.

The commitment comes after representatives of persons with disabilities (PWDs) took their grievances to the streets, demanding the release of KSh15 million that had been allocated by the county government for disability-related programmes and activities. The affected groups said they had waited for a long period despite the funds having been approved, prompting them to seek direct intervention from Governor Bii. 

The issue has attracted attention in Uasin Gishu because the money is expected to support programmes intended to improve the livelihoods and economic opportunities of persons with disabilities across the county.

PWDs demand release of KSh15 million

The controversy emerged after persons with disabilities in the county complained that a KSh15 million allocation approved in the previous financial year had not reached the intended beneficiaries.

According to reports, the funds were meant to support various activities and programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of persons with disabilities. The beneficiaries argued that they had followed up with county officials on several occasions but had not received a satisfactory solution.

The affected groups eventually decided to make their concerns public. In September, persons with disabilities staged demonstrations in Eldoret and petitioned Governor Jonathan Bii to intervene and ensure that the money was released.

The protesters said they were not asking for a favour but for money that had already been approved for programmes targeting them.

Nominated MCA Regina Chumba, who joined the PWD representatives, questioned why the funds had taken so long to reach the intended beneficiaries despite having gone through the approval process.

Other representatives said they had held several meetings with county officials in an effort to resolve the matter before resorting to demonstrations. They maintained that their objective was to ensure that the county government fulfilled its commitment to persons with disabilities. 

Governor Bii gives assurance

Following the concerns raised by the disability community, Governor Jonathan Bii gave an assurance that the money would be made available.

The governor explained that the KSh15 million commitment had been provided for in the county budget, but there had been a challenge in the requisition process that had delayed the release of the funds.

He assured the representatives that the administrative issue would be resolved and that they would receive their money within less than a month. 

The assurance is expected to provide relief to persons with disabilities who have been waiting for the funds to be released.

For the beneficiaries, the key issue now is implementation. Having received a commitment from the governor, they will be watching closely to see whether the money is released within the promised timeframe.

KSh500,000 for each ward

Governor Bii also indicated that an additional empowerment arrangement would benefit persons with disabilities through the county's Inua Biashara programme.

Under the proposal reported after the engagement, KSh500,000 would be channelled to each of the county's 30 wards through the programme. 

The initiative could provide another avenue for persons with disabilities to access economic empowerment opportunities at the grassroots level.

Such support could be important for beneficiaries seeking to establish or expand small businesses, acquire equipment, improve their livelihoods or participate more actively in the local economy.

The emphasis on ward-level support is also significant because persons with disabilities live in different parts of the county and face different economic challenges.

Why the money matters

The demand for the funds comes against the background of wider challenges faced by persons with disabilities, including limited employment opportunities, access to education, healthcare, business opportunities and other public services.

During their demonstrations, the PWD representatives also raised concerns about employment opportunities, arguing that some qualified persons with disabilities were not getting opportunities to serve in the county government.

They also pointed to the need for access to bursaries and other forms of support.

The KSh15 million therefore represents more than a financial allocation. For the beneficiaries, it is viewed as an opportunity to improve their economic circumstances and participate more fully in society.

The protests demonstrated the frustration that can arise when government commitments are made but beneficiaries wait for long periods before seeing the actual benefits.

County says it supports disability inclusion

The Uasin Gishu County Government has previously highlighted disability inclusion as part of its service-delivery agenda.

In September, the county said it was championing the rights of Deaf people and promoting equal opportunities and access to public services. 

The county has also undertaken disability-mainstreaming activities aimed at ensuring that government services take into account the needs of persons with disabilities.

In July, the Department of Social Protection conducted training on disability mainstreaming and disability-friendly services. The county said the programme was intended to improve services to persons living with disabilities and make public services more inclusive and accessible. 

The county has also said that more than 100 persons with disabilities have been employed in various positions within the county government. 

These initiatives indicate that disability matters remain part of the county's broader social protection agenda.

However, the recent dispute over the KSh15 million has also highlighted the difference between policy commitments and actual implementation.

Beneficiaries now await action

With Governor Bii's latest assurance, attention has shifted from the demonstrations to the implementation of the promise.

The persons with disabilities who publicly demanded the money will now expect the county administration to complete the necessary administrative processes and ensure that the funds reach their intended beneficiaries.

The governor's promise of a resolution within a month gives the beneficiaries a specific timeframe to look forward to.

It will also provide an opportunity for the county government to demonstrate that funds allocated for disability empowerment can move efficiently from the budget stage to actual implementation.

For persons with disabilities, the expectation is that the process will be transparent and that those eligible to benefit will be clearly identified.

The community is also likely to demand information on how the money will be distributed, what programmes it will support and how beneficiaries will be selected.

A test of accountability

The current situation has become an important test of accountability in Uasin Gishu County.

The county had already allocated the money, according to the governor's explanation, but the beneficiaries complained that they had not received it. This raises broader questions about how quickly county programmes translate budget allocations into services and support for residents.

The experience also demonstrates the importance of communication between government departments and beneficiaries.

If an administrative problem is delaying a programme, affected residents need to be informed about the problem, the steps being taken to resolve it and the expected completion date.

In this case, the public pressure eventually resulted in a clear commitment from the governor.