By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 22 April 2026 - In Kisumu, a quiet transformation is unfolding—one stitched together by courage, skill, and a stubborn refusal to be left behind.
Inside community halls and training spaces, women once defined by limitation are now defining their own futures. Sewing machines hum. Ideas flow.
Confidence rises. What began as a modest intervention is fast becoming a movement—powered by the partnership between Hope Women with Disabilities (HOWID) and Christian Blind Mission, CBM Global Disability Inclusion, an international Christian development organization committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in the world's poorest communities.
At the apex of it all is Carolyne Agwanda—a formidable voice in disability rights and Advisor on Disability Matters to Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o.
As chairperson of HOWID, she is not just leading programmes, she is reshaping mindsets.
“We are not asking for sympathy,” Agwanda says, her tone firm but hopeful.
She says, “We are asking for opportunity. Give persons with disabilities a chance, and the results will speak for themselves.” HOWID is no ordinary organization.
It is grassroots, women-led, and built by persons with disabilities themselves—people who understand the struggle because they live it.
Its mission is simple but powerful: to build an inclusive society where women and girls with disabilities are seen, heard, and empowered.
Through training on disability etiquette, communication, caregiving, and now enterprise development, HOWID is tackling exclusion from every angle.
HOWID and County officials are being sensitized. Families are being educated. And most importantly, women are being equipped to stand on their own feet.
That effort has received a major boost from CBM Global Disability Inclusion.
With support of Sh2.9 million, CBM has helped train more than 150 HOWID members—equipping them not just with skills, but with tools and startup capital.
The goal is clear: move beyond dependency and into sustainability.
Behind the scenes, a committed team from CBM has been working closely with HOWID to turn this vision into reality.
Agwanda is quick to acknowledge the support of Executive CBM Director Edwin Osundwa, Country Programmes Manager Kevin Sudi.
Working alongside Vivian Sikinyi, Bridget, Wickliffe and Jacky—all are part of a team helping to build not just skills, but lasting resilience through training.
CBM Global’s philosophy is rooted in dignity. With more than a century of experience, the organization works in some of the world’s poorest regions.
The aim is to break the link between disability and poverty—supporting inclusive communities where everyone can claim their rights and reach their full potential.
In Kisumu, that philosophy is coming to life.
Participants are learning tailoring, small business management, and financial literacy—practical tools designed to help them earn a living long after donor funding fades.
The focus is not on handouts, but on building enterprises that can survive and thrive.
More from Kenya
For beneficiaries, Maureen Omondi, Caroline Cathy, Catherine Wafula, Silpah Anyango and Mildred Auma, the impact is immediate—and deeply personal.
“This training has changed how I see myself,” says Anyango, a beneficiary. “I am no longer waiting for help. I am working for my future.” But she is not alone.
Same is echoed by Auma who is the HOWID Treasurer, Cynthia Otieno, a caregiver, Akinyi projects officer and Beatrice Odongo.
Their stories echo across the programme—stories of women starting small businesses, expanding existing ones, and contributing to their households.
But this transformation is not happening in isolation.
The County Government of Kisumu has emerged as a critical partner, working closely with organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to build a more inclusive environment.
Under Governor Nyong’o, disability inclusion has moved from rhetoric to action—through policy support, engagement, and capacity-building.
The momentum is further reinforced by the Persons with Disabilities Act 2025, which calls for meaningful engagement of persons with disabilities at all levels of society. For Agwanda, this legal backing is a game changer.
“This law is not just words on paper,” she says. “It gives us a platform to demand inclusion—and to deliver results.”
She points to global frameworks such as the Global Disability Summit 2025, where governments and non-state actors committed to deeper engagement with OPDs.
The HOWID-CBM partnership, she says, is a direct response to that call—turning global promises into local action.
Still, challenges linger. Access to markets, affordable credit, and lingering stigma remain real barriers. But something fundamental has shifted.
Confidence.
HOWID is not just training people. It is proving a point. That disability is not inability. That inclusion is not charity.
And that when given the tools, the space, and the trust—people long pushed aside can rise, build, and lead. In Kisumu, they already are in action.
Training HOWID members and empowering them and actioning in practice.
Communities that once sidelined persons with disabilities are beginning to recognize their value. Slowly, perceptions are changing.
Yet challenges remain.
Access to capital, market linkages, and persistent social stigma still threaten to slow progress.
But the foundation being laid is solid. Skills, once acquired, cannot be taken away. Confidence, once built, is hard to break.
What HOWID and CBM are doing is simple—but powerful. They are shifting the narrative from limitation to possibility.
In a world quick to speak about inclusion, this partnership is doing the harder work: making inclusion real.
From the Margins to the Marketplace: Inside HOWID and CBM’s Bold Push to Turn Ability into Opportunity
From the Margins to the Marketplace: Inside HOWID and CBM’s Bold Push to Turn Ability into Opportunity