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Landmark sports initiative targeting children with disabilities rolled out in Seme
28th March, 2026 05:06 PM
A transformative two-day sports initiative for children with disabilities has kicked off in Barkorwa, Kombewa, in Seme Sub-County, Kisumu County, marking a significant shift toward inclusive grassroots participation and access to essential services.
The event, which attracted over 1,000 learners with disabilities, is part of an effort to battle stigma against disability and is aimed at encouraging parents to embrace their children living with disabilities.
According to TSC commissioner Timon Oyucho, the initiative is designed to address long-standing barriers that have limited children with disabilities from participating in sports, especially at the grassroots level. Oyucho believes the initiative will transform several lives.
Oyucho said the commission has deployed trained special needs teachers to support the children throughout the event, ensuring they are well guided and cared for during the competitions.
Collaboration
He commended the collaboration between government agencies and partners, noting that the integration of sports, health, and education services makes the initiative comprehensive and impactful.
“We are also undertaking ongoing assessments aimed at identifying children with disabilities and integrating them into the education system, building on earlier efforts conducted in 2024,” said Oyucho.
He noted that previous assessments identified over 700 children with disabilities in Seme, but only four schools were initially equipped to accommodate them, highlighting a major gap in access to education.
Among the categories featured were physically impaired, autism, celebral palsy, deaf-blind, intellectually challenged, hearing impairment, and visual impairment.
Address long-standing barriers
Principal Secretary for Children’s Services Caren Ageng’o said the initiative is designed to address long-standing barriers that have limited children with disabilities from participating in sports, especially at the grassroots level.
She noted that most opportunities have previously been concentrated at the national level, excluding many children in rural communities.
She explained that the event, which will be replicated across all counties, aims to create a structured pathway where children can compete locally and progress to national competitions.
According to her, this will help identify talent early while building confidence among participants.
Ageng’o emphasised that the initiative is also meant to demonstrate that disability is not inability, adding that top-performing children from the event will be selected to participate in national competitions.
She highlighted that the programme is raising awareness about the challenges faced by children with disabilities, revealing that some in Seme had been confined at home for years without access to education or social interaction.
The PS called on parents to take children with disabilities to school, stressing their right to education, protection, healthcare, and overall well-being.
She cautioned against isolating children, noting that it denies them critical opportunities for growth.
She also underscored the health benefits of sports, pointing out that some children have been deprived of basic physical activity and even sunlight, affecting their health.
She noted that a follow-up medical camp will be organised to provide assistive devices based on assessments conducted during the event.
Additional schools
Following collaboration with the Ministry of Education, he said fifty additional schools have since been established and registered to cater to learners with special needs, ensuring that each sub-county in Seme now has multiple institutions capable of supporting these children.
Joshua Okise, the CEO of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, said the initiative builds on earlier awareness campaigns conducted in the community, including outreach programmes at Nyabera Primary School.
He noted that children with disabilities often face stigma within families and communities, leading to their exclusion from education and social activities. He said the event is meant to challenge these perceptions and encourage families to seek support.
As a Level Six referral facility, he said the hospital is also working to strengthen healthcare systems across the Lake Region Economic Bloc by training professionals from lower-level facilities through exchange programmes.
He explained that this approach helps decentralise services, ensuring that children who cannot travel to the referral hospital can still access care within their communities.
Okise added that after assessments, children will be registered and provided with assistive devices such as wheelchairs and crutches. He urged families to come forward, emphasising that children with disabilities can achieve success in various professions if given the right support.
