Murang’a,
Saturday, May 4, 2024
KNA by Bernard Munyao/Purity Mugo
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has promised to lobby for passing of the disability bill which is before the parliament to propagate better welfare of people with disabilities.
The bill if enacted into law, Mwaura said, will see parents of children with disabilities exempted from paying income taxes.
He observed that parents are over burdened by the needs and special care their disabled children require thus the need to be exempted from Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax.
Speaking on Friday at Muriranjas Hospital of Murang’a where he led distribution of assistive devices to scores of persons with disabilities, Mwaura remarked that the bill has overstayed in the parliament adding he will lobby to ensure it sails through and be assented into law.
“We have a bill in parliament which advocates for the welfare of persons with disabilities.
Currently, those with disabilities are exempted from PAYE but the Bill proposes that parents of children with disabilities also be exempted from paying the income tax.
“It’s unfortunate some parents are held back from taking care of their children with disabilities and also struggle to afford some items needed for their upkeep,” stated Mwaura during a function that was organised by the spouse of Murang’a governor Mary Wambui Kang’ata.
The spokesperson further said the government has set aside Sh100 million to support parents of children with developmental disability with some basic needs.
“Parents with children with autism among other forms of disabilities who need extra care like diapers are slated to benefit from the set aside Sh100 million,” he added.
Mwaura promised to champion for the welfare of the people with disabilities so as to benefit greatly from various government services.
He lauded Murang’a county government for establishing two model therapy centres to avail physiotherapy for children with disabilities.
Speaking at the same occasion, Murang’a governor Irungu Kang’ata said the county has a high number of people with disabilities and thus a high need of assistive devices.
He promised that his administration will be issuing assistive devices every year to those with disabilities so as to help them in their daily lives.
“We established a therapy centre at Kirwarwa hospital last year, today we have launched another here at Muriranjas hospital and we will continue establishing the centres in every constituency so as to assist children and people with disabilities to access physiotherapy services,” he added.
Assessment of those with disabilities, Kang’ata said, will be taken to villages so as to relieve the disabled from traveling for long distances to be assessed.
Director of Ahadi Trust Kenya Stanley Kamau averred that his organisation will continue to support persons with disabilities in the county.
Dr Kamau, who presented some assistive devices, asked the government to consider supporting parents of children with disabilities by including them in the cash transfer programme.
“Parents with disabled children need to be included in the cash transfer programme. They also need to be registered in the Social Health Insurance Fund for free. The parents suffer a lot as they are unable to look for employment since they are committed to look after their children,” noted Kamau.
During the occasion, assistive devices worth more than Sh1 million were issued to persons with disabilities drawn from various parts of the county.
Courtesy; KNA
