FALSE: Photo does not show the drought situation in Embolioi, Kajiado County, in October 2022
Admin Deputy president William Ruto on Tuesday while in Nairobi promised athletes with disabilities that he will make sure that they never suffer again..
The deputy president was speaking during a meeting with Paralympians who were among other Kenyan leaders who had paid him a courtesy call.
“Sports men and women from the disability category have been facing challenges. You guys have slept on roads and airports; I take this opportunity on behalf of the government to ask for forgiveness. It is not right, it is not correct. I want to promise that this will never happen again,” said the deputy president who now popularly goes by the name hustler.
Over the years, persons with disabilities in Kenya who participate in sports and have represented the country during international competitions have always felt neglected by the government.
With the latest of their problems coming in the month of May in 2019 when The Kenya Paralympics team that took part in the fourth International Athletics Meeting held in Marrakech, Morocco from April 23-27 got stranded at a Nairobi hotel as the government delayed to pay their allowances.
That team was made up of 54 athletes who had been booked at a hotel along Thika Road upon their arrival after hauling a total of 42 medals (11 gold, 14 silver and 17 bronze).
Team captain James Mongere complained that the government owed them at least 80,000 kenya shillings per head. They had not been paid since they started training at a residential camp at Kasarani stadium.
Despite all those happenings last year, the deputy president tried to give hope to Paralympians.
“Every athlete who participates in international competitions will be taken care of by the government. If you win gold you will be paid one million shillings, silver is five hundred thousand and a bronze will get you two hundred and fifty thousands in addition to your training allowances,” the hustler promised.
Despite all that, the deputy president still got applause. But the big question still remains to be, are the said laws that were put in place years back still in operation?
If so, why haven’t they been in use as many Paralympians have participated in international events and gone home without pay? And finally, what about those ones who are yet to be paid?
The deputy president might have felt good promising persons with disabilities that they will be taken care of and their rights not abused, but that’s on paper, the reality on the ground is something else.
By Shadrack Andenga odinga
