By Arnold Ageta
Nyamira senatorial aspirant Philemon Apiemi has continued his charity work in the county as he seeks to reach the less fortunate people in society.
The senatorial hopeful has been conducting grassroots outreach to empower widows, orphans, and people living with disabilities (PLWDs) who, according to him, have been ignored by leaders interested only in their votes.
Apiemi, a city lawyer, has been collaborating with Douglas Orutwa of the Empowered Citizenry Against Poverty (ECAP) CBO to issue ‘assistance devices’ to PLWDs.
On Thursday, April 17, 2025, Apiemi presided over the launch of the Borabu Disability Umbrella Organization CBO, which aims to empower PLWDs in areas of financial matters and education for their children.
During the launch, Apiemi said he is running programs that support widows and PLWDs through donations of wheelchairs, crutches, walking frames, and economic empowerment initiatives such as agricultural input support with pumpkin seeds and passion fruits.
Apiemi announced, “For those who wish to receive assistance devices for PLWDs, you need to register, including those who are not here, so that they can undergo medical assessment and receive the devices. We issue the devices to those who have registered.”
The aspirant asked the members of the new CBO to understand how to demand their constitutional rights as enshrined in the law.
“For instance, in the county, you are almost 20,000 PLWDs, and you need to demand that the county government provide for you all necessary provisions, including the Disabled Board that will handle issues concerning PLWDs,” he told them.
He urged them to demand their percentage of contract awards from county and national government tenders because it is provided for in the law.
He emphasized the importance of voting wisely for politicians, advising them to avoid leaders who do not value them now when they are in power, stating that these leaders should support them before seeking their votes.
“For those who do not have disability certificates, they should ensure they get assessed, registered, and issued with certificates so that they can be exempted from taxes if they get employed or when conducting some government transactions,” he said.
Apiemi promised to pay the registration fees for 20 PLWDs who do not have certificates and donated KES 20,000 to their account.
In conjunction with ECAP, they awarded 12 scholarships to the most vulnerable and needy members who have children wishing to attend college.
On his part, Douglas Orutwa of ECAP said they had taken a significant step by coming together, regardless of their respective self-help groups, to register a CBO.
“We have partnered with Philemon Apiemi to help PLWDs in our county because we understand their plight and what they endure at the hands of politicians,” he said.
READ ALSO: PLWDs in Nyamira receive life-changing mobility devices
Mr. Orutwa advised the members to love themselves and stop self-stigmatizing, as this has led many parents of differently-abled children to hide them.
He said the scholarships they are issuing will admit students into plumbing, electrical installation, hairdressing, and computer application courses.
The two leaders promised to donate beehives to the CBO so that they can engage in beekeeping, which is more profitable in the county.
Mr. Andrew Magaseti, the chair of the Egetinge Council of PLWDs in West Mugirango, who attended the launch, said they must unite and push for the establishment of the Disability Board that was supposed to be set up but has been delayed by the county government.
“We need to ask the county government to consider PLWDs in employment opportunities and tenders,” he said. He added that they are unable to compete with others for these opportunities because they are not given a chance.
“Consideration of PLWDs when constructing buildings and roads should be prioritized so that we can easily use the roads and access public buildings without difficulty,” he noted.
Dorca Kerubo, a member of the CBO who benefited from passion fruit and pumpkin seedlings, said it was an honor for the senatorial aspirant, Philemon Apiemi, to launch their CBO and donate some cash to help them start.
“We have come here as people living with disabilities to meet our leaders who have launched our CBO that will champion our rights besides helping us get empowered financially and socially,” said Kerubo.
Their objective, she said, is to be self-reliant, curb self-discrimination, avoid begging for help, get registered, and obtain disability certificates.
“He has shown and proved that he cares about the less fortunate in society like us, which is why we will support him and pray that God sees him through his dream so that he can help us even more,” she said.
Like Kerubo, Kennedy Osoro from Eng’enta Disabled Self Help Group expressed his appreciation for the sensitization that Apiemi offered them.
“As a lawyer, he has taught us about our rights and how we can fight for them. He has educated us on many things that we did not know before,” he said. “He has also enlightened us on how we can benefit from the CBO we have launched today.”
Mr. Osoro said they have never met a leader who recognizes and appreciates PLWDs in the community. “This is the first one, and we will all rally behind him in his quest to represent the county in the Senate,” he said.
“We call upon our leaders to emulate Apiemi in supporting PLWDs in society, who are often unable to fend for themselves compared to those who have been supported.”
Apiemi asked the members to establish a sacco that will lend money to members at lower interest rates as he seeks donors to boost their funds.
“I now declare the Borabu Disability Umbrella Organization CBO officially opened and operational,” Apiemi announced. “And we wish you the best as you operate the CBO for the benefit of the members.”
