COUNTY, CDPOK CAPACITY BUILD DISABILITY TWG ON DISABLED COMMUNITY RIGHTS.

The County Government of Kakamega in partnership with the Consortium of Disabled Persons Organizations in Kenya (CDPOK), today convened a Disability Community Technical Working Group (TWG) forum aimed at strengthening leadership capacity among persons with disabilities on their rights and entitlements.

The Technical Working Group comprises representatives from CDPOK, Civil Society Organizations, Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs), the Kakamega County Disability Caucus, Christian Blind Mission (CBM), religious organizations, among other stakeholders. The forum focused on enhancing advocacy competencies, institutional coordination, and rights-based approaches to disability inclusion.

Speaking on behalf of the County, Chief Officer for Service Delivery, Dr. Phitalis Masakhwe, underscored key milestones achieved through the Departments of Health and Social Services in empowering persons living with disabilities. He cited last week’s wheelchair distribution exercise held at Bukhungu Stadium as a demonstration of the County’s commitment to improving mobility and social inclusion.

Dr. Masakhwe, further, emphasized the importance of unity within the disability community to secure equitable human capital development and fair resource allocation. He referenced Fernandes Barasa’s appointment of two Chief Officers from the disability community as a significant step toward inclusive governance and representation.

During the session, the TWG deliberated on critical areas including identification and registration processes for persons with disabilities, workplace protection rights, political participation, and access to government programs and opportunities reserved for PWDs.

CDPOK Program Coordinator Ms. Tasline Otieno reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to sustained collaboration with stakeholders in Kakamega to advance disability rights and align interventions with the Governor’s Good Governance pillar.

Also present were Director of Gender, Mrs. Joyce Wafukho, and representatives from the Disability Mainstreaming Desk within the Department of Health.