There was glamour during a fashion show featuring disabled women from different parts of the country on Friday night at the Sarova Shaba Lodge in Isiolo.
The sensational five-hour event that featured both modern fashion and cultural theme was marked before the seventh edition of the Desert Wheel Race hosted by the Isiolo County government in partnership with the Northern Nomadic Disabled Person’s Organisation (Nondo) on Saturday.
Governors, Cabinet secretaries and MPs who graced the event took to the stage to catwalk and dance as they unwound from their normal hectic duties.
The fashion show was incorporated as one of the activities in the race marked annually, aimed at championing the rights of disabled people through sports.
BEAUTY
There were cheers and disbelief among the spectators as the 12 female contestants with different kinds of disabilities showcased their beauty in different stunning attires.
Some contestants walked with enormous confidence while others wheeled themselves in amazing styles leaving the crowd speechless.
The 12 models did not let their disabilities get on their way as they showed their elegance throughout the event.
Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa and his Labour counterpart Ukur Yattani were among dignitaries who walked down the models whose aim was to impress the judges as they sought to scoop the crown and the ultimate prize.
Governors Mohamed Kuti (Isiolo), Ali Roba (Mandera), MP David Ole Sangok (representing the disabled) together with the CSs amused the crowd as they displayed their dancing styles when they were called on the stage to catwalk.
Labour Chief Administrative Secretary Abdul Bahari and Isiolo Woman Rep Rehema Jaldesa also graced the glamorous event.
Comedians Jalang’o and Atoyo also entertained the crowd.
WINNER
Ms Caroline Wanjira, 27, from Nairobi County was crowned the winner of the fashion show and took home Sh50,000.
Ms Wanjira, who uses a wheelchair, was made an ambassador of the Desert Wheel Race.
The first and second runners-up received Sh30,000 and Sh20,000 respectively.
But the two governors resolved to reward all the contestants with Sh10,000 each saying it was only fair that all them go home with some cash.
TRICYCLE RACE
On Saturday, all the roads were closed for two hours in Isiolo as disabled people drawn from all the 47 counties participated in the 21-Kilometre tricycle race.
There was a fun-fair category dubbed leaders race where the CSs, Governors Mohamed Kuti (Isiolo), Josphat Nanok (Turkana), Ali Roba (Mandera), Mohamed Abdi (Wajir) Mohamud Ali (Marsabit) and Ali Korane (Garissa), MPs Rehema Jaldesa (Isiolo woman rep), Hassan Oda (Isiolo North), Ole Sangok (representing the disabled), Abdi Koropu (Isiolo South), among others, rode wheelchairs in a 400 metres tri-race.
Governor Kuti won the race.
The desert wheel race started in Isiolo County in 2012 and is said to be the biggest event ever in East Africa.