This archive report was first published on 8 October 2021.
On September 30, 2021, Faith Nakhumicha Nyongesa was hard at work at Kevina Bakery, a testament to the opportunities available to people with disabilities in Bungoma County.
Founded in 2012 by a group of nuns at St Kevina Catholic Church, Kevina Bakery has made it a priority to employ people with disabilities, with at least 90 per cent of its workers falling into this category, according to bakery manager Geoffrey Barasa.
‘We have different types of workers who are physically challenged, not only from Bungoma County, but also from neighbouring counties like Kakamega, Kericho and Busia,’ Barasa explained.
The bakery provides a range of job opportunities, from baking to loading and off-loading goods, and offers its employees a daily wage of at least Sh500 per person.
For many of the workers, including 40-year-old Centrine Simiyu, a mother of five, the bakery has been a lifeline, providing them with a steady income and a chance to improve their economic status.
‘My last born child is in baby class, the third born is in Form Three and fourth-born in Standard Seven. The first and second born are at home due to lack of school fees. They all depend on my salary for everything,’ Simiyu said.
The bakery's commitment to employing people with disabilities has not only improved the lives of its workers but has also created a sense of community and understanding, with many of the workers learning to communicate with each other in sign language.
