BY SHABAN OMAR
The Muslims Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP) is yet to launch an initiative to engage persons with disabilities and collaborate with the offices responsible for the registration of identification cards and birth certificates.
The goal is to ease access to the essential documents for individuals with disabilities who lack them.
Speaking during a registration exercise held in Kilimangodo, Kwale County, the organization’s county coordinator, Mwalimu Ali, said the aim is to ensure that persons with disabilities obtain official documents that will enable them to benefit from government and community-based development programs.
The new development follows the increasing cases of PWDs lacking crucial documents required for registration with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
According to Ali, the situation has caused many PWDs to miss out on essential services and empowerment programs.
MWARP County Coordinator Mwalimu Ali speaks in an interview during a mass registration drive at Kilimangodo in Kwale County in August 2025.
“Many PWDs lack crucial documents. This not only affects their registration but also locks them out from accessing numerous other benefits,” he said.
He noted that the ongoing registration initiative aims to bridge that gap by bringing services closer to the community, especially those in remote areas who are often forgotten.
The registration exercise is expected to continue across various parts of Kwale County, with the hope of reaching hundreds more who have long been sidelined due to documentation challenges.
Ali added that the programme is part of MWARP’s agenda to promote inclusivity and social justice for marginalized groups, especially in rural and underserved areas.
A section of PWDs attends a mass registration drive at Kilimangodo in Kwale County in August 2025.
He further urged other stakeholders to join hands in supporting persons with disabilities, not only through documentation but also by ensuring they have access to education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods.
One of the beneficiaries of the initiative, Chikoza Mandara, expressed joy for being registered at their doorstep, noting that the move had lifted the burden of traveling long distances to access these services.
He said for years he had tried, without success to get registered, which had denied him the chance to register for government support programs meant for PWDs.
Mandaea said the registration means a lot to him and others in his situation.
Another Kupha Madzengo thanked MWARP and the government offices involved in the outreach, urging them to sustain the efforts and reach more people in need.
“There are so many of us who suffer silently because of lack of awareness. This initiative is a sign of hope, and I pray it continues,” she said.
Mandara further called on community-based organizations and the government to economically empower them by providing capital and income-generating opportunities so they can sustain themselves and live independently.
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