The Kakamega Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (KAVOREC) in Rostaman, a few kilometers from Kakamega town is in a wanting state with most of its buildings leaking.
The institute that majorly caters for the disabled in the society urgently needs funds to renovate the dormitories, dining hall and a number of classes that get disastrous during the rainy period.
According to the manager of the institute Doris Chapia, the buildings in use at the center were used as stores by white men decades ago and are not even suitable for the learning environment.
Chapia now calls upon the national government and the county government to intervene by setting aside funds for construction of modern structures at the institute.
“I call upon the two governments to come in and renovate the boys dormitory and the school dining hall since they leak and thus pausing a threat to the students who are disabled and some asthmatic.” Said Chapia.
She said that though the institute is not devolved, the county should come in and save its face given that it is within its boarders.
She appreciated earlier efforts by the county government of Kakamega who equipped its graduates with tools of trade and lauded the governor Wycliffe Oparanya saying that the idea pushed many parents to enroll their children at the institute.
Besides buildings, Chapia also wanted the government to pull its socks at the food sector.
She said that what they get at the moment is not enough to last them a term calling upon the government and donors to come in urging that most of the parents are poor and thus not able to provide for their basic needs.
Chapia added that other parents are careless and see their disabled kids as a burden. She said that once they get their children at the institute as they open, they completely forget about them yet they have needs through out the term.
She further called upon parents who hide their disabled children to release them to similar institutes for them to get equipped with various skills that will enable them fend for themselves.
Explaining that disability is not inability, Chapia said that she is at the fore front to ensure that such kids don’t get wasted threatening to take legal actions against any parent that will be found hiding them.
The rehabilitation center which was ranked as the best performing institute in the ministry of East Africa Community Labour and Social Protection, offers various skills to not only the disabled but also class eight and form four drop outs who are interested.