Over 170 persons with Disability have Benefited from Assistive and Mobility devices from Kenya Re’s Niko Fiti campaign

The Kenya Reinsurance Corporation (Kenya Re) through its flagship corporate social responsibility, Niko Fiti campaign has today distributed 22 mobility and 172 assistive devices to 178 beneficiaries in Turbo sub-county in Uasin Gishu county.

Speaking at the Turbo Sub-County Hospital, Kenya Re’s Group Managing Director, Dr Hillary Maina Wachinga said, “Today’s beneficiaries are part of 1,000 people that Niko Fiti aims to reach this year. We go beyond distributing free mobility and assistive devices to encouraging persons with disability to register at the national registry for better national planning for PWDs and provide sensitization against their stigmatization.”

The Niko Fiti campaign is a nationally recognized initiative that is implemented in partnership with the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK) and uses community networks to identify persons in need for the support.

Speaking during the second phase of the campaign, Anthony Nzuki, Chief Executive Officer, APDK said: “Activities such as the ones conducted by Niko Fiti go a long way to close gaps that PWDs in rural communities experience for sustainable growth. We need to ensure that efforts are brought down to the grass root levels where because of culture, lack of awareness or due to socio-economic factors, PWDs still face challenges such as being hidden which goes against their human rights.”

The third and last phase of the campaign for the 2023 Chapter will be held in Nyeri County.

About Kenya Re
Kenya Reinsurance Corporation Limited (Kenya Re) is the oldest Reinsurer in Eastern and Central Africa and among the 10 companies listed in the NSE Share 10 Index. It was established through an Act of Parliament in December 1970 and commenced business in January 1971. Kenya Re’s core activity is providing reinsurance services for most classes of business.

Since its inception, Kenya Re has progressively and consistently continued to provide reinsurance services to more than 482 companies spread out in over 83 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Kenya Re is committed to offering world-class reinsurance services. In 2004, the Corporation made an effort to benchmark its services with international standards by subjecting itself to a rating process by an international rating agency, AM Best. It was rated B (Fair). The Corporation has successfully maintained this rating to date. The Corporation is also rated AA+ by Global Credit Rating (GCR).

About Niko Fiti & other CSR activities
The Niko Fiti Campaign, Kenya Re’s flagship CSR project, has improved the lives of over 11,800 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) since its inception in 2011. Its inception model is informed by a national disability survey on PWD demographics, socio-economic/cultural characteristics, disability causes, gender challenges, coping mechanisms, and rehabilitation services. In 2023, the original model was further developed to cover three pillars: Environmental, Education and Community support.
1. Niko Fiti environment consists of all activities that impact the environment such as tree planting. So far, the pillar has supported tree planting in the Uplands Forest Station where it has planted 50,000 trees. It has also planted 10,000 in Lenana school and has contributed Ksh 1,000,000 and 100,000 avocado seedlings towards the 7th edition of the Kaptagat Forest Afforestation Campaign through NETFUND.
2. Niko Fiti Education covers all activities targeting access to education support. So far, the program has partnered with the Affecto Foundation to provide resource sponsorship for students under its program with Ksh200,000. Through the Watoto Wasome program, Affecto bridges the access gap for underprivileged students to quality education, health, and social welfare with the goal of reducing poverty.
3. Community support for persons with disabilities covers all activities targeting mobility and assistive devices for PWDs, with the aim of destigmatizing disability in Kenya.

In other CSR-related matters, the Corporation has also supported the Mater Heart Run with KShs. 250,000.00, KICE Foundation Golf with Ksh100,000, ISK (Kenya Re Tenant) with Ksh50,000 and Zep Re Relay run with Ksh150,000 all in an effort to be a socially responsible partner in the business environment we operate in.