Kenya: Wheelchairs Seized Over Port Charges

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The Nation (Nairobi)

5 September 2008
Posted to the web 6 September 2008

Nairobi

More than 500 wheelchairs are being held at Mombasa because Sh2.2 million port charges have not been cleared.

The wheelchairs have been at the port for the last nine months.

Mr Benson Omwenga Anjere, chairman of Kenya Programmes of Disabled Persons (KPDP) on Friday accused the Government of giving disabled people a "raw deal".

He blamed the ministry of Finance for failing to process an exemption to the port charges as soon as the wheelchairs arrived.

The organisation says it is not the first time its members have suffered because of the Government's inability to act swiftly.

Mr Anjere said in 2003, the KPDP received a donation of 1,000 wheelchairs worth Sh50 million but because the organisation could not raise enough funds to cover the cost of the accrued port charges, the donor repossessed the wheelchairs and sent them to people in Sudan.

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