John Musembi, 46, who suffered polio when he was five years old, says he will celebrate Christmas in a unique way this year.
He plans to buy two kienyeji chickens and have them cooked at a local kiosk and invite three of his best friends to enjoy the feast.
After all, he has Sh6,000 more to spare this Christmas.
The cobbler is one of the 1,000 beneficiaries of a philanthropist in Mombasa who has decided to give Sh1,000 per month, for six months, to each of the a thousand registered persons with disability from the Coast region.
But instead of having them travel to get the Sh1,000 each month, they on Tuesday got the Sh6,000 lump sum.
"It will be a biannual thing. After six months, they will come back for another Sh6,000. It is just to make them feel loved and cared for," Imtiaz Sayani, a representative of Mombasa Cement Company, which runs the programme, said.
On Tuesday, chaotic scenes were witnessed opposite Royal Court hotel, where registered persons with disability thronged for the goodies, before order was restored.
"I was told to come with my disability card by a friend. I did not know he had already registered me for the programme," Mcharo Mwakudinda said.
He told the Star he will give his wife and three children a treat this Christmas, though he does not know how.
"I want them not to feel bad about my situation. I want them to enjoy themselves like other normal families," he said.
Sayani said the programme is a way to give back to the society.
"We know it is not enough and the numbers will rise. We will see what to do when that happens," Sayani said.
The company, a source told the Star, has set aside at least Sh24 million for the programme.
"With human beings things change. We are sure after Tuesday, more will come. We had set a target of 1,000 on Tuesday but we now plan for as many as 5,000," the source said.
Sayani declined to confirm or deny the figure, saying it is not important.
The programme targets PWDs from across the Coast region.
On Tuesday, majority were from Mombasa.
“Those from other parts of the region will have special arrangements made to reach out to them,” Sayani said.
Opposite Royal Court Hotel on Tuesday evening, county askaris had to intervene to ensure law and order is restored.
A small traffic snarl-up was beginning to build as many PWDs, some on wheelchairs, rushed to the scene to get themselves some goodies.
Some of the PWDs, who have not been registered by the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya, were at first turned away.
However, the intervention of a senior officer at the Mombasa Cement company, saw them get the money too.
"They said I have not been registered and that I was not in their system. But some old man talked to them and we were finally allowed in the line," James Omae, whose family lives in Kisii said.
"I will have to travel to Kisii this time so I can spend Christmas with my family," he said.
He has not spent Christmas with his family for the last two years.
-Edited by SKanyara
