Amputees Receive Free Prosthetic Limbs in Machakos Initiative

 At least 68 amputees from the Lower Eastern region have regained mobility and renewed hope after benefiting from a free prosthetic limb program launched by the Machakos County Government in partnership with Swiss Ability.

The initiative, the first of its kind in the region, was officially launched by Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti at Machakos Level 5 Hospital. The program aims to provide free prosthetic limbs to amputees while improving access to rehabilitation services across the county.

Speaking during the launch, Governor Ndeti announced plans to decentralize prosthetics assembly services to Level 4 health facilities, making assistive devices more accessible to residents in need.

“I reaffirm the commitment of my government to continue investing in rehabilitation services and assistive technologies to restore the dignity of our people,” said Ndeti.

The governor noted that many of the beneficiaries had lost limbs due to road accidents, diabetes-related complications, and wildlife attacks involving snakes and crocodiles. She emphasized the importance of strengthening rehabilitation services to support persons living with disabilities.

Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi linked the growing number of amputations in the county to preventable road accidents and urged motorists to exercise greater caution on the roads.

“Many of these cases could be avoided through safer driving practices and adherence to traffic regulations,” he said.

Kennedy Meli, Chairman of the National Orthopedic Technologists in Kenya, called on the Council of Governors to establish orthopedic workshops in all counties to address the increasing demand for assistive devices and rehabilitation services.

He revealed that more than 200 amputees in Machakos alone are still in need of prosthetic and orthopedic support.

“We intend to conduct more orthopedic programs in Machakos to ensure seamless provision of basic technology. I call upon other counties to establish orthopedic workshops so that people living with disabilities can easily access these essential services,” said Meli.

For beneficiaries, the program has been life-changing. Kennedy Musyoki from Masinga expressed gratitude after receiving his prosthetic limb, saying the device would enable him to move around independently and with dignity.

“The device will accord us the ability to move around with dignity,” Musyoki said.

Other recipients echoed similar sentiments, describing the initiative as the end of years of financial hardship and physical limitations. They said the prosthetic limbs would not only restore their mobility but also improve their psychological well-being and quality of life.

The partnership between Machakos County and Swiss Ability is expected to benefit more amputees in the coming months as efforts to expand prosthetic and rehabilitation services across the county gather momentum.