The Kenya Society for the Blind calls for govt aid
By Vincent Munga
The Kenya Society for the Blind (KSB) has been operating on a zero budget allocation from the government despite being a government constituted institution.
KSB Chairman Samson Waweru says the 65 year old body has been surviving on donor funding to undertake its mandate.
The Chairman who was speaking during the launch of KSB strategic plan for the period of 2021-2025 urged the national and county governments to aid the body.
Labour Chief Administration Secretary (CAS) Patrick Ntutu who was present promised that the government will factor in a budget allocation for the body in the next financial year, as well offer technical support for the smooth implementation of the strategic plan.
Currently, Kenya has at least 350,000 confirmed blind cases. Also over 700,000 Kenyans are low sighted and the other 10 million are at risk of going blind. Of these, 7.5 million are already infected.
According to the 2019 census, 2.2% (0.9 million people) Kenyans live with some form of disability.
KSB was established in 1956 by an Act of Parliament to cater for the wounded soldiers who were returning from war with many eye injuries.
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