Members of an organization for persons with disabilities in Homa Bay County have expressed displeasure over their exclusion in selection of nominated Members of County Assembly to represent their interests.
The officials of the organisation dubbed the Homa-Bay County Disability Forum (HBCDF) said the Orange Democratic (ODM) party ignored their input in the process despite the organisation being mandated to handle disability issues in the county.
The list of the nominated MCAs in Homa Bay County Assembly in the Kenyan Gazette include Lilian Awuor Omolo (female) and Daniel Omondi Ogola (male) to represent the People with Disability (PWDs) in the County Assembly.
Addressing the press today, the Secretary General of HCDF Jacob Omoro Okinyi said they were very disappointed with the ODM party for shutting them out of the nomination process.
“We are distancing ourselves from the names we saw published in the Kenya gazette because they are not members of our forum,” said Okinyi.
Okinyi said that their forum had nominated Tom Okiki Ndede (Male, Deaf reg. No. NCPWD/p/1794) and Seraphine Atieno Jairo (Female, Visually Impaired reg. No. NCPWD/P/53390) to represent them in the assembly.
“We urge the party to remedy the situation and nominate the individuals we proposed as fellow PWDs,” Okiki stated.
He reiterated that the duo they proposed were competent and well versed with the challenges PWDs face hence can offer proper representation.
The Coordinator of HCDF David Ochola alleged that some of those nominated by the ODM party have previously headed some public institutions that have failed.
He also said that if their concerns were not addressed, they have options of heading to the court to fight for their rights.
“If our cry won’t be heard, we are planning to seek justice in the courts of law. We are also planning to hold a peaceful demonstration,” said Ochola.
Another member of the forum, Susan Kanyoko also claimed that the nominated individuals do not understand their development priorities therefore, they were unlikely to push for policies which address their challenges.
“We are currently planning to meet the Governor to help us in the fight,” said Konyako.