(L-R)Nicholas Otieno, a clinician with KAWE,Michael Mwangi, an occupational therapist coordinating disability assessments in Nairobi and Jane Wamugu, the NCPWD Regional Coordinator for Nairobi County speaking during a disability medical assessment and awareness drive in Kariobangi on August 26, 2025.
By Peace Muthoka.
Nairobi, Kenya – Persons living with epilepsy have been urged to register with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to access vital services such as free medication, therapy, assistive devices, and tax exemptions.
Speaking during a disability medical assessment and awareness drive in Kariobangi, Jane Wamugu, the NCPWD Regional Coordinator for Nairobi County, stressed that epilepsy has long been recognized as a disability. However, she noted that limited awareness has denied many patients the chance to benefit from government support.
“Epilepsy has been diagnosed as a disability since the inception of the Council,” Wamugu explained. “The real challenge has been low awareness. That is why we are reaching out to ensure persons with epilepsy do not fall through the cracks.”
According to Wamugu, registered persons with disabilities enjoy a wide range of benefits. These include free drugs, physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapies, diapers for those who need them, and scholarships for children. In addition, registered members qualify for tax exemptions, duty-free importation of vehicles, and free assistive devices such as wheelchairs and hearing aids.
To access these services, registration is now fully digitized through the government’s e-Citizen platform. Applicants are required to present an assessment report, identification documents, and a passport-size photograph. Wamugu emphasized that the Council is working closely with community health promoters, sub-chiefs, and local leaders to reach families at the grassroots.
Jane Wamugu,(left) the NCPWD Regional Coordinator for Nairobi County speaking during a media interview with the press at Kariobangi North Health Centre on August 26, 2025.
Michael Mwangi, an occupational therapist coordinating disability assessments in Nairobi, said the county government has partnered with the Kenya Association for the Welfare of People with Epilepsy (KAWE) to provide free medical assessments.
“Today alone we have registered over 160 people, and the process is still ongoing,” Mwangi noted. “Our aim is to ensure persons with epilepsy and other neurological conditions can access services without struggling through long queues.”
Nicholas Otieno, a clinician with KAWE, urged communities to abandon myths that have stigmatized epilepsy for years. He pointed out that some families still associate seizures with curses, witchcraft, or demonic possession.
“Epilepsy is a medical condition, not a curse,” Otieno stressed. “With proper medication and follow-up, people with epilepsy can live normal and productive lives.”
The awareness drive has already seen more people, including elderly patients, step forward for registration. Wamugu revealed that even a 97-year-old patient was recently enrolled, showing that age is no barrier to accessing services.
She added that the newly assented Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025 recognizes caregivers and proposes tax exemptions to ease the financial burden on families offering full-time care.
The outreach initiative will continue across Nairobi, with upcoming assessment camps scheduled in Kamukunji and other sub-counties.
