On 8 January 2002, Kenya's president Daniel arap Moi appointed Kristina Wambui Pratt, the daughter of Kenya's first president Jomo Kenyatta, as chairperson of the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) (The Nation 12 Jan. 2002). Kristina Pratt is also the sister of Uhuru Kenyatta a local government minister (The East African Standard 12 Jan. 2002). According to an article by The Nation, it was unclear why Eliud Mahihu, who had overseen the Fund for "close to 15 years," was being replaced (12 Jan. 2002).

The NFDK was established by President Moi in 1992 (Indian Ocean Newsletter 24 May 1997). The Fund provides financial assistance and equipment to disabled individuals and to institutions working with the disabled (The East African Standard 16 Aug. 2002). Although the NFDK receives an average of 500 applications from institutions and 600 applications from individuals annually, it can only afford to assist approximately 155 institutions and 500 individuals per year (ibid.). The Fund receives revenue through rent generated from two buildings it owns in Nairobi, namely the Rehema House and the New Rehema House (ibid.). A newspaper article reported that for the fiscal year 2001/2002, a total of Sh19 million (CDN$377,910) will be awarded to individuals and institutions (ibid.; Oanda 29 Aug. 2002).

Its current Board of Trustees includes J.J.M. Nyaga, David Musila who is a Member of Parliament (The Nation 12 Jan. 2002) and Mike Kiswila (The East African Standard 16 Aug. 2002).

No additional information on the NFDK could be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate including any reports of funds being misappropriated.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

The East African Standard. [Nairobi] 16 August 2002. "Kenya: Sh19m to be Spent on Handicapped." (Africa News/NEXIS).

_____. 12 January 2002. "Kenya: Uhuru's Sister is New Disabled Fund Boss." (Africa News/NEXIS)

The Indian Ocean Newsletter. 24 May 1997. "Eliud Mahihu (Kenya)." (NEXIS)

The Nation. [Nairobi] 12 January 2002. "Kenya: Moi Honours Kenyatta's Daughter." (Africa News/NEXIS)

Oanda. 29 August 2002. "FXConverter - 164 Currency Converter Results." http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic [Accessed 29 Aug. 2002]

IRB Databases

NEXIS

Internet sites including:

Africa Confidential

AllAfrica.com

BBC Africa

Daily Nation

Disability.DK

Disabled Peoples' International

East African Standard

Kenya Web

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

U.S. Department of State

Women's Human Rights Net

World News Connection (WNC)

Unsuccessful attempts to reach the Kenya Human Rights Commission, the East African Federation of the Disabled, the United Disabled Persons of Kenya, the Wheeled Mobility Centre, the Mennonite Central Committee and the Swedish Organization of Disabled Persons.

Search engines including:

Google