Disability is not Inability

:: International Women's Day:

Thursday 8th March is the annual International Women Day. We look at the achievments and challenges we face as women and girls with disabilities across Kenya and Africa. As we celebrate this day, let us reflect on the various issues women with or without disabilities need to be able to improve their livelihood. Being an election year in Kenya let us vote with this in mind. Women have alot of potential to overcome various challenges and improve

Women are faced with various challenges in Africa. Women work many hours with very little real value for their effort. A maasai woman will walk very long distance to collect firewood to cook. The need for speeading rural electrification programme will reduce the burden of motherhood.
		"I used to walk long disatnce every morning to collect water before i go to school" Says Josephine Kalunda from Mwingi District. Josephine who is deaf Says "we hope the government will bring water to the Mwingi Rural community by digging more boreholes. The Constituency development Fund can also be used in not only water but also education of the girl child with disabilities.

Access to education is important for many girls with disabilities. But more so if the mother is educated. many girls with disabilities are not educated due to stigma related to the fact that nobody would wish to marry them. A daugter with disabilities cannot be sold in early marrieg which is quite common in Kenya. Many parents do not care to even look for them a husband as they do for boys with disabilities.
		Women and girls who are blind are prone to quite a number of sexual and physical abuse. Teachers, neighbours, relatives and many take advantage of the women with disabilities. There is need for more braille based education available for women and girls with visual impariments..

As we Celebrate this great day let us remember that women and girls living with disabilites are huuman being too. Let us prioritise the gender budget to include agenda that benefits and explores their potential and citizens of the country. Let us buy wheelchairs for girls and our mothers with disabilities. Let us provide computer based skills to deaf women so they can compete equally with men in accessing employment.

Being an election year, let us include women with disabilities in our political parties and party agenda. Let Narc Kenya and ODM Kenya among other political parties in Kenya, tell us what are their plans for us women with disabilties. Let each party elect or Nominate one woman with disabilties to posts in their parties and Government.


Happy International Womens Day from disabilitykenya.

Category: Gender

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