Leaders from Meru have vowed to come up with strategies for dealing with women and children with disabilities who have at the moment occupied the streets of Meru town begging for help.
Speaking at Kaaga Primary School in Meru County during this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood said it was sad to see children as young as three years being driven in wheelchairs under the scorching sun or rain and put at strategic points so they can beg for money.
He said the children, who are believed to be from the neighbouring countries were being tortured since this was not the best way to solicit help for them.
“Kenya has very beautiful programs including Inua Jamii which takes care of such children. In any case, must someone move around with the child the whole day without even minding their welfare for them to get money?” posed Mr Rahim.
He said they have held sittings with the area Deputy County Commissioner and they have already come up with strategies to deal with such cases once and for all.
“I am aware that some of the disabled women and children driven in these wheelchairs are victims of rape by those who assist them to move around and this is the reason you will find some of them with babies including girls below 18 years,” he said.
Mr Rahim posed: “These children have been in these streets for years now. Hasn’t this money been enough to help them in one way or the other? And how sure are we that this money will go to help the child?”
On his side, Municipality ward MCA Caleb Mutethia who also attended the event congratulated MP Dawood for standing with the disabled people all through trying to bargain for their better future upkeep.
He said that he was in the process of preparing a manhandling bill to be tabled in the assembly, and once passed, it would be committed to the gender office and be used to regulate the children being moved around the town.
“One of the proposals in the bill is that for someone to be allowed to beg in town, one must produce a certificate from the Chief or other senior government officer stating the need to beg,” said Mr Mutethia.
