The Desert Wheel Race
The Desert Wheel Race (DWR) is a competition among the tri-cycle users from Nomadic /Pastoralist Counties of Kenya and it is NONDO’s patented annual flagship event that was started in Isiolo County in 2012. DWR has two build up activities The National Disability Conference andThe Desert Fashion Gala.
This event provides a platform to showcase the abilities of persons with disabilities while also serving as a catalyst for disability rights advocacy through ensuring integration and access to opportunities on an equal basis. The vision of DWR is to ultimately establish a disability sporting academy in Kenya. Perhaps the first one in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Over the years, the race has grown in popularity and participation since its inception; in 2012 only Isiolo County participated, the number increased to five counties participating in 2013, 2014 had seven counties of northern Kenya participating, 2015 had eleven ASAL counties, 2016 had seventeen counties participating, 2017 had twenty-one counties participating and 2019 had twenty-seven counties participating. In 2020, due to corona virus the active participation of the Desert Wheel was cancelled and instead, together with Isiolo County, NONDO carried out an awareness creation on Covid 19 and its effects to persons with disabilities. The race has also witnessed an increment in the number competing of participants from 11 in 2012 to 78 Participants 2022 a (700% growth).
The thinking behind the fashioning of this race was inspired by an unfortunate event that happened more than 40 years ago in Isiolo County. Warring pastoral communities clashed and left scoresdead, hundreds of thousands of animals taken away with dozens being displaced. One young boy (Hussein Borle ) was lucky to survive the ordeal, but with spear lodged right in his feeble back his mobility was taken away becoming a wheelchair user all his life.
The event has over years been held under the banner of various advocacy issues affecting the PWD. For example, in 2012 and 2013 Editions, the event was organized under the theme: “Mainstreaming disability into peace initiative”. The 2014 and 2015 Editions of the race focused
on the theme; “promoting access to education for a nomadic child with disability.
In 2017, the event’s theme was,” Racing for peace, unity and prosperity”, which was held shortly before Kenya Went for General Elections. 2018 was the peak of devolved government where the theme was “Devolution and Disability-the big four agenda.” In 2019 the theme; “Disability and
Tourism-promoting accessible tourism” and in 2020 the theme was about“Education; inclusive Covid-19 intervention for learners with disability” to create awareness on Covid 19 and how its effecting children with disabilities, in 2021the theme of the race was “Mobility and Access to Assistive Technology.” And in resent The Desert Wheel race 2022 the theme was about ‘Advocating for Meaningful Engagement of Pastoralists with Disabilities in Public Decision-Making Processes’.
NONDO constitutes yearly planning committees drawn from previous year participants, county officials in each county and NONDO team. The committee is tasked with preparation of DWR in details including.
i. Reviewing yearly events and providing reports for better planning
ii. Sending invitation letters with criterion for vetting of participants and competitors of every year to all counties
iii. Sending invitation to stakeholders and different government departments
iv. Ensuring gender equality, equity as well as representation of all types of disability
v. Supporting fundraising plans
vi. Attending interviews on behalf of the partners