North Eastern PWD chair decries bias in job, procurement opportunities

Hafid Maalim, the North Eastern chairman for people with disabilities (PWD), has criticised both the county and national governments today for alleged discrimination in employment and procurement opportunities.

Speaking in Garissa town, he voiced his concern over the continued neglect of PWDs, despite the progress made in the 2010 constitution, which upholds their rights.

“We have been totally sidelined by both the national government and counties; the number of people with disabilities working in North Eastern counties is less than one per cent, and the same for the Kenya Kwanza government," he decried.

Hafid claimed that with each new appointment by both levels of government, the hope for inclusion in the government diminishes.

He noted that people with disabilities across the country were facing similar challenges, as the promised 5 per cent inclusion in state appointments remains unfulfilled and exists only on paper.

HAFID cited the recent appointments of Cabinet Secretaries, claiming that the PWDs were left out and that only Abdi Dubat of the East African Community was appointed out of the 52 slots for principal secretaries.

He urged the President to uphold his campaign pledge by ensuring that people with disabilities are considered for jobs and procurement opportunities.

“For how long will the PWD in North Eastern and the entire country continue to remain neglected?" He asked.

Hafid blamed the county governments for denying the PWD the opportunity to serve their community despite having the necessary requirements that were commensurate to the advertised jobs.

"Among our members, we have individuals who possess the necessary skills, experience, and knowledge." Others are entrepreneurs, and they need to benefit from the advertised tenders by counties and national governments," he stated.

He went on to say that the government had not yet put into effect the existing laws that required giving people with disabilities 30 per cent of the procurement opportunities.

The regional chairman also called for the need to prioritise the PWD on the provision of bursaries to enable them to access education.