Kenyan leader vows to eliminate barriers facing persons with disabilities

Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-17 01:01:38|Editor: huaxia
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NAIROBI, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Thursday his government will accelerate the rollout of policies that clear the barriers for social inclusion for persons with disabilities.

Kenyatta said the government will also continue implementing affirmative action programs to enable persons with disabilities to realize their full potential.

"I reiterate the commitment of the government to do what it takes to continue to improve the lives of persons with disabilities," Kenyatta, who is the patron of the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK), said in Nairobi, the capital, when he presided over the organization's 40th anniversary celebrations.

The Kenyan leader, who also launched a book that chronicles the successes of the fund over the last four decades, commended the fund for giving hope to Kenyans with disabilities through its various programs.

"The fund has aided in giving voice to a once-neglected part of our society. The fund has made visible those who were too often invisible and overlooked," Kenyatta said in a statement issued after the ceremony.

In collaboration with other stakeholders, Kenyatta said, the fund has empowered dreams through the provision of training, increased access to technical equipment and advocated for the laws and policies that have equalized the playing field.

He challenged the NFDK to invest in a program that supports research and technology as well as innovation to address challenges faced by persons with disabilities. Enditem

KEY WORDS: Kenya,Disability
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