First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Wednesday, June 8, visited St Kizito Litein School for the Deaf in Kericho County to celebrate the infrastructural transformation of the special needs institution that was funded by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and other partners.
During the event covered by Kenyans.co.ke, the First Lady called on key stakeholders and Kenyans in general to aid children living with disabilities in order to actualise their dreams and potential.
She advocated for the children to be given top priority in order to achieve inclusivity for all Kenyans.
"To make this work, it is vital for us to also ensure accessibility as a key feature of inclusivity in our education system."
"Access without discrimination will not only eliminate discrimination and stigma, but it will also equip our children with the necessary skills they need to help them overcome their adversity," she stated.
The First Lady also pointed out that her key project, the Beyond Zero initiative, supports the government's bid to achieve inclusivity by advocating for equal access to healthcare and education for children living with disabilities.
"We have also supported Government initiatives that seek to safeguard their welfare through advocating for increased registration in the National Council for Persons with Disability," she noted.
The First Lady also commended CBK's management and staff for raising the funds needed for the rehabilitation of classrooms, sanitary facilities, dormitories, fresh water boreholes, installation of water harvesting structures, installation of solar lights and landscaping.
The partnership between CBK and the institution dates back to 2016 during the Kenya Music Festival State Concert where the children delivered a powerful performance. Impressed by their presentation, the CBK staff developed a special bond with the children and chose to adopt them.
In August 2016, a visit to the institution by the CBK staff revealed the deplorable state of the school. Moved by the pupils' drive and determination despite the challenges, the staff resorted to raising funds through various projects in order to renovate the school's structure.
Part of the projects involved climbing East Africa's tallest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, whereby CBK governor Patrick Njoroge and his deputy governor led two teams in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
After successfully raising funds, the rehabilitation project began in March 2018 and ended in March 2022.
