Buildings that fail to provide proper access for persons with disabilities could soon be closed as the government prepares to enforce disability and workplace safety laws more aggressively across the country. Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has warned that public offices, private buildings and construction sites that ignore the law will face action as authorities move to ensure compliance.
Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, Mutua said his ministry is ready to begin a nationwide inspection exercise targeting buildings that do not have the facilities required to accommodate persons with disabilities. He said the enforcement campaign will also extend to workplaces and construction sites where workers and members of the public are exposed to harmful noise.
“We have passed a disability law. If you have a building, that building needs to comply. It must have ramps and lifts. Once a blind person can touch the buttons, they should be able to read the floors,” Mutua told senators.
“Do not be surprised if some Senate buildings are shut down. We are going to enforce this to ensure all government agencies, whether national government, county government, the Judiciary or even Parliament, comply with the law.”
Mutua said government institutions cannot continue demanding compliance from private developers while some public buildings are yet to meet the standards set out in law. He said disability inclusion must be reflected in public infrastructure and services instead of remaining a legal requirement that is not enforced.
The Cabinet Secretary made the remarks while responding to senators on issues touching on disability inclusion, occupational safety and social protection.
He also revealed that his ministry is finalising national guidelines that will set acceptable noise limits in different places of work and public spaces.
The planned rules will cover construction sites, matatus, churches, bars and entertainment venues, where excessive noise continues to expose workers and nearby residents to health risks.
“It is important for us as a country to realise that heavy noise, whether in matatus, construction sites, churches, bars or discos, has an effect on people’s lifestyle and the long-term impact on their lives,” he said.
“I am going to publish guidelines very soon on what we expect in terms of noise levels. County governments are mandated to ensure that noise protection is managed.”
Mutua said his ministry has also noticed cases where employers provide protective equipment but fail to ensure workers use it while carrying out their duties.
“Some contractors have protective gear for the ears but their workers do not have them. That is something I will investigate,” he said.
“Do not be shocked if you see me walking around and shutting down some construction sites or stopping constructions where people behave in a manner that is not proper.”
His comments followed concerns from senators over the growing number of workplace safety cases and hearing problems linked to excessive noise.
Mutua said the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census recorded about 153,381 Kenyans aged five years and above who reported hearing difficulties or deafness. He, however, explained that the figures were based on what people reported during the census and were not confirmed medical diagnoses.
He added that the Ministry of Health keeps records of patients receiving hearing rehabilitation services because it is responsible for ear and hearing care.
On access to healthcare, Mutua said persons living with disabilities are fully covered under the Social Health Authority.
“Any person who is disabled in this country gets free treatment through SHA. It is 100 per cent treatment through SHA,” he told senators.
The Cabinet Secretary also defended the ministry's inspection record following the death of a worker at the Talanta Stadium construction project.
He said labour officers visited the site in December last year and instructed the contractor to address labour law violations identified during the inspection.