NAIROBI, Kenya, April 1 – Families and communities have been encouraged to stop hiding children living with disabilities and instead prioritise their well-being and inclusion.
Speaking at the Eastern Region Sunshine Rally in Machakos, organised by Rotary District 9212, District Governor Nominee Patricio Njeru noted that children living with disabilities often fail to access vital needs such as education, healthcare, and social participation due to being secluded.
“We must move away from the culture of hiding children with disabilities. When children are kept at home, they miss out on education, social interaction, and even critical medical support. Taking them to school and into community spaces is essential for their development and well-being,” he noted.
According to the 2019 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics report, approximately 1.92 million children (aged 0–14) live with some form of disability, representing about 43.4 percent of the total reported population of persons with disabilities
The majority of those with disabilities – the data added – have Mobility issues, which are the most common, followed by visual, cognition, and hearing impairments, with 80 percent of them living in rural areas, where access to specialized services and education can be limited.
The rally brought together caregivers, teachers, civil society organisations, and local leaders from Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni counties to show support for children living with disabilities.
“The Sunshine Rally is about dignity and belonging. Every child deserves to be recognised, to play, to learn, and to feel part of society,” Eastern Sunshine Rally Chair Michael Kilonzo said.
