First Lady: Let’s not discriminate

By PPS

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has cautioned parents against hiding children with disabilities.

She said hiding persons with disabilities violate their rights and discriminated them on the basis of their physical or mental ability, sometimes impeding efforts by the Government and non-government agencies from identifying and assisting them.

She said it was disheartening that some of the persons with disabilities were not embraced.

“Within our families and institutions are people living with disabilities. All of us were created in God’s image and therefore we must embrace one another irrespective of our limitations,” she said.

Ideal theme

She spoke at the start of this year’s edition of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Annual Gender and Disability mainstreaming week and acknowledged the annual event, themed Gender and Disability Mainstreaming, as a reflection of the much-needed commitment by individuals and institutions to contribute towards gender and disability mainstreaming. She said the event’s theme resonates deeply with the social pillar of Vision 2030, which aims at bringing all citizens on board to partake in development.

“The establishment of Gender and Mentoring centre and the development of Anti-sexual Offenses policy are progressive steps towards achieving gender inclusion and making the institution an inclusive place for all stakeholders,” she said.

The First Lady appreciated that JKUAT had taken the right steps in implementing affirmative action targeting people living with disabilities in admissions and employment.

The First Lady, who launched the University’s Anti-Sexual Harassment and Disability Mainstreaming policies, however, challenged the university to enhance disability mainstreaming from its current level of 0.5 per cent to the national aspiration of 5 per cent.

She called on public and private agencies to recognise the fact that it takes inclusion of men and women in all day-to-day functions to enable the country develop.

JKUAT Vice Chancellor Mabel Imbuga said the university had the necessary mechanisms to cater for needs of persons with disabilities at the institution.

Nominated MP Mwaura Maigua, Isaac Manyonge of National Council for Persons with Disability, Director, Gender and Mentoring Centre Dr Johnson Kinyua were among the guests.