The problems that persons with disabilities face are majorly as a result of the constructs in the mind of the society which reduces their opportunities, through cultural beliefs and attitudes built by the society. This is further compounded by the immediate environment of PWDs, i.e., the family. The study investigated the influence of the family on the empowerment of persons with disabilities in Rachuonyo South-Homa Bay County. The study objectives examined the influence of the family on the empowerment of PWDs at the household level in Rachuonyo South. This study was guided by the Social Model of Disability and sampled 83 people obtained by employing Yamane 1967 formula. Questionnaires and FGDs were employed to obtain data from the field. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, means and frequency counts were used in the analysis of data. The study found that cultural beliefs and attitudes influenced the decisions at the family level impacting negatively on PWDs empowerment and the family should provide an enabling environment for PWDs to access opportunities. The study recommends that the government to increase awareness campaigns, upscale empowerment funding’s and activities that promote income generations among PWDs and aggressively print and disseminate the national disability policy.

Keywords: Family, Empowerment and persons with disabilities