Abstract: This research sought to investigate the effect of the National Development Fund on economic empowerment of persons with disabilities in Kiambu County. The specific objectives of the research were to determine how income, wealth, skill development and business practice have affected economic empowerment. Descriptive research design and snow ball sampling was used to come up with a sample of 30 respondents from 10 groups registered with the NCPWD Kiambu county office. Data for this study was collected from primary data sources using interviews and a semi-structured questionnaire. The data was then analyzed after being checked for validity and reliability, it was then edited, coded and thereafter sorted in accordance to similarity of responses to various questions. The research findings revealed that only 20% of the beneficiaries of the fund had experienced some form of empowerment but the majority of persons with disabilities were still disadvantaged in terms of their ability to acquire income, wealth, develop their skills and improve their business practices. The study also revealed that provision of funds to persons with disabilities with the aim of empowering them is worthwhile but not entirely sufficient. The study therefore concluded that the NDFPWD had improved the lives of persons with disabilities although only to a small extent. Empowerment was not sustainable in most cases due to the inadequacy of the amount of money given, insufficient training or skill development and the lack of monitoring and support services. The research therefore recommends that the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and Ministry of finance should increase the amount of money given to persons with disabilities so as to enable them to carry out the intended projects, ensure that the intended beneficiaries are adequately trained and equipped with relevant skills to be able them to successfully undertake various income generation activities, coming up with timelines to ensure that those who apply for the funds get them in a timely manner and don’t have to wait for long as was the case in the study, and finally the council should establish monitoring, evaluation and support systems for those that receive the funds so as to ensure proper utilization of the funds and promote sustainability.
Keywords: National Development Fund on economic empowerment of persons with disabilities (NDFPWD).
Title: Effect of the National Development Fund on the Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in Kiambu County
Author: ISAAC WAMBUA MUINDE, Dr. MARGARET OLOKO
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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