Mentally disabled want Sh200m fund implemented

Mentally disabled people have urged the government to implement a Sh200 million cash transfer allocated for the disabled in this year’s Budget.

While marking the World Mental Health Day on Sunday, representatives of the mentally retarded said they have been patient in the push for their rights and as a result continued to face many challenges.

The disabled people noted that they will demand to be heard and treated as equals in all respect especially with the coming into effect of the new Constitution that recognises their rights.

“We expect the government to keep its word on the implementation of this cash transfer fund in the current financial year,” said Kenya Society for Mentally Handicapped’s Hilna Shah.

According to the 2009 census report, 3.6 million Kenyans suffer from different forms of mental disabilities.

Ms Shah said there were 20 recognised types of mental disabilities that included autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, trisomy and Klinefelter Syndrome.

In the new Constitution, people with mental disabilities are acknowledged as persons who have the legal capacity to act and the right to government support.

Said Ms Shah: “This means that the medical model of disabilities that is under the Mental Health Act, electoral laws and sections of the Disability Act need amendment.”

“In the new approach, persons with mental disabilities shall be addressed with respect and all degrading terms that are currently in the laws need to be abolished.”

She said terms as unsound mind, imbecile or idiot still used in the legal, judicial, administrative and electoral processes were discriminating to her members.

The society recently registered more than 1.5 million voters with intellectual disabilities, but only 150,000 cast their ballots at the referendum.

“We hope the electoral commission will fix all barriers that affect those with intellectual disabilities to enable them vote in future elections.”

The official said the government has continued to overlook them in support.

Ms Shah noted that most fathers often abandon their children and the mother once they realised they were mentally disabled after birth.

Others suffer inhuman treatment like being chained up in the house or being tethered like animals.

“To ensure that we fully conform to the new Constitution, persons with mental disabilities shall actively participate in governance and democracy processes,” Ms Shah added.

The society has now announced a change in policy from holding charity walks to holding public events on rights of persons with mental disabilities .