The Eastern Region Sunshine Rally was held on 28th March at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, bringing together caregivers, teachers, civil society organisations, and local leaders from Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni counties in a powerful show of support for children living with disabilities.

Organised by Rotary clubs in Eastern Kenya under Rotary District 9212, the rally formed part of a nationwide series that had earlier taken place in the Coast, Western, Nairobi, and Mt. Kenya regions. As the fifth and final event in the series, the Eastern Region Sunshine rally served not only as a celebration but also as a strategic advocacy platform to shift public narratives and strengthen visibility for children living with disabilities.

Rotarians from the Eastern Region during the Sunshine Rally at Machakos Stadium

The event hosted 650 children with disabilities drawn from schools across Kajiado, Machakos, and Makueni counties. It highlighted a critical issue: despite existing policy frameworks supporting inclusion in Kenya, many children living with disabilities continue to face systemic barriers in education, infrastructure, and social participation, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where access to specialised services remains limited.

Speaking at the event, Eastern Sunshine Rally Chair Michael Kilonzo emphasised the importance of creating spaces where children with disabilities are seen, valued, and celebrated.
“The Sunshine Rally is about dignity and belonging. Every child deserves to be recognised, to play, to learn, and to feel part of society.”

Nancy Onyango, CEO-Show Up Communications.

District Governor 9216 Nominee Dr. Patrisio Njeru called on families and communities to take a more active role in supporting children living with disabilities, particularly by ensuring access to education and healthcare. “We must move away from the culture of hiding children with disabilities. When children are kept at home, they miss out on education, social interaction, and even critical medical support. Taking them to school and into community spaces is essential for their development and well-being,” he noted.

The rally emphasised Rotary’s commitment to inclusion and community impact. It highlighted the importance of continued collaboration among families, educators, policymakers, and civil society to overcome barriers and create equitable opportunities for all children. We were proud to be one of the sponsors, bringing joy to hundreds of children and their families.

At Show Up Communications, our role as media sponsors went beyond visibility to shaping the narrative. As part of our sustainability and social impact advisory, we supported the Sunshine Rally through a structured, advocacy-led communications approach designed to reposition how disability is framed in national public discourse. This included shifting storytelling away from charity-based framing toward dignity, inclusion, and rights-based narratives; driving strategic media engagement through proactive outreach, on-ground coordination, and compelling story angles rooted in lived experiences; and amplifying the voices of children, caregivers, educators, and Rotarians as central storytellers. This approach resulted in wide national and local media coverage.

Media coverage highlights:

KBC: https://www.kbc.co.ke/eastern-kenya-sunshine-rally-champions-disability-inclusion-dignity/ 

Capital FM: https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2026/04/families-urged-to-stop-hiding-children-with-disabilities/

JOS K TV: 

Mutongoi TV:

KTN News: