Admirable Scorecard Of Pastor Dorcas Rigathi In The Empowerment Of PLWDs
The spouse of the Deputy President Pastor Dorcas Rigathi tries her hand at assembling a wheelchair on the first day of equipping 120 children and adults with disabilities with specialized wheelchairs at ACK St. Mathews Church in Karen grounds. The beneficiaries with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and amputees were assessed, measured and fitted with wheelchairs best-suited for them. In the last one year, Pastor Dorcas has visited 20 counties where she has distributed more than 300 wheelchairs, 100 tricycles, and 80 white canes, and she plans to spread the PWD program across all the 47 counties. Photo/ODP
By ODP
The Spouse of the Deputy President Pastor Dorcas Rigathi has said she plans to visit all the 47 counties in the country and better the lives of as many Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs).
She said in the last one year, she had already traversed 20 counties, distributed more than 300 wheelchairs, more than 100 tricycles and more than 400 white canes in collaboration with different partners.
Pastor Dorcas also added she had visited special schools that included Ol-Ng’arua school for the disabled in Laikipia County, Kivulini in Kilifi County, Olkalau School for the Disabled in Nyandarua County, St Teresa in Nairobi County, Wamuini Special School in Trans-Nzoia County, and Kisii Autism Unit.
“I am planning to visit all counties, God willing, because persons with disabilities have the right to have good conditions, live independently, enjoy equal opportunities and participate fully in the life of their community. And it is our obligation, as a community, church, neighbours, government and everyone who is around to ensure their full participation in society, on an equal basis with others,” said Pastor Dorcas.
She spoke at the ACK St Matthews Church Grounds in Karen during the assessment, measuring and fitting with wheelchairs of 120 children and adults with disabilities in collaboration with Hope Mobility.
“I have also organized, together with partners, medical camps targeting persons with disability where more than 1,000 persons and their caregivers have benefited. Recently, we also did assessment for fitting of prosthetics for 10 persons, and in September we shall undertake an assessment targeting over 300 persons across the counties of Mombasa, Kisumu, Meru, Nairobi and Kisii,” she said.
Pastor Dorcas is also patron of Special Olympics Kenya that comprises those with intellectual disability. In 2023, she accompanied the team to Berlin, Germany where they won 25 medals that included 15 gold medals.
The Area Vicar, Rev Parin Kabeu said he appreciated providing the church ground for persons with disabilities to be empowered through the issuance of wheelchairs, and said this was the greatest calling for the church, to make the life of people better.
“I appreciate bringing hope and the right equipment to those with disabilities. I am pleased to know that you don’t just give a wheelchair, but it must be fitted to a specific person, and a specific condition,” said Vicar Kabeu.
Jack Muthui spoke on behalf of Hope Mobility and called on churches in Kenya to make sure all their facilities were accessible for those with wheelchairs, and other assistive devices to encourage inclusion for all.
“Our team shall be here for two-days, assembling the wheelchairs. The devices are medical, and fitted in accordance with the World Health Organisation standards.”
“Every wheelchair is specialized for a given individual, and if transferred to someone else could end up hurting them instead of helping them. In future, Hope Mobility, plans to start offering artificial legs and therapy,” added Mr Muthui.
Wheelchairs take time to assemble, and this is dependent on the level of expertise and experience of the person assembling, and also specialization of the wheelchair. Hope Mobility has trained personnel who ensure those with disabilities are assessed, measured and fitted with the best wheelchairs according to disability, and use among other factors.
Also present were Disability Service Officers from Kiambu County Josphat Mukuit and Nairobi County Wamugo. The beneficiaries of the specialized wheelchairs were from Nairobi, Kiambu, and Kajiado Counties.
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