Employment and disability in Mathare North

George Otieno, aged 25 years, has been living in mathare north for the last sixteen years and he says that most of the young disabled people living within mathare north face all challenges identified by their peers but are further constrained by being stigmatized. They believe that they cannot compete fairly with those without disability, even when they have the qualifications.

Many disabled people have very few jobs in the formal sector, Otieno says. The majority are self-employed in carpentry, tailoring, dressmaking, and knitting and continually point to their abilities through their active participation.

In addition Otieno came up with this poem:

Disability is not inability

Disability is not separation

All of us can make it

Disability is not tribalism

Disability is not illiteracy

All of us can make it

Disability is not violence

Disability is not poor health

All of us can make it

Disability is not corruption

Disability is not unemployment

All of us can make it

Disability is not inability

All of us can make it.

— Javin

Tags: Mathare, Mathare North