Thousands of children with disabilities continue to face barriers to education in Kenya, the Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) has warned, citing insufficient funding, lack of accessible facilities, and gaps in policy implementation that leave many learners out of school.
TISA highlighted a recent incident where a Grade 10 learner was refused admission to a secondary school simply because the institution did not have the facilities to accommodate students with disabilities.
The group said the case underscores a nationwide problem rather than being an isolated situation affecting a single school.
In a statement on Friday, TISA said such exclusions reflect systemic failures that prevent children with disabilities from enjoying their constitutional right to education.
"TISA notes that the denial of admission to learners with disabilities is not merely a ‘facility issue’ but rather a direct violation of the law and state obligation," the organisation said.
Kenya’s Constitution protects the right to education under Article 53 and guarantees access to inclusive learning institutions for persons with disabilities under Article 54. Yet, TISA said these legal safeguards are not being fully applied, leaving countless children without schooling.
"If education remains a privilege for only a few, then it amplifies inequalities and will continue to hold families in perpetual poverty. Education is a basic right that every Kenyan child is entitled to as set out under Article 53 (1)(b) of the Constitution, yet it has been equated with success and wealth," the statement added.
The group raised alarm over declining or stagnant funding for Special Needs Education (SNE) and the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE). Funding for primary SNE fell from Sh1.53 billion in 2023/24 to Sh963 million in 2024/25, while allocations for secondary SNE remained at Sh200 million despite rising student numbers and costs. KISE’s budget also dropped from Sh952 million to Sh622 million over the same period.
TISA further pointed out that children in rural and marginalised regions face compounded challenges. Poverty, long distances to schools, and the lack of accessible facilities mean these children often receive fewer years of schooling and are more likely to be excluded entirely.
Although Kenya has expanded access to primary and day secondary education, the pace of inclusion has lagged. Over one million children remain out of school, many of them with disabilities, and funding shortfalls threaten progress toward equitable education.
"Such cuts directly undermine the constitutional promise of equality, equity, and the right to education for learners with special needs, and risk reversing hard-won gains toward inclusive education in Kenya," TISA said.
The organisation called on the government to enforce inclusive education standards, implement affirmative action policies, provide emergency and sustained funding for accessible infrastructure, and prioritise marginalised counties and schools supporting learners with disabilities.
"It is time we reflect and say no to this kind of discrimination and non-inclusivity, and all schools should be made to cater to learners who are PWDs, not as an exception but as a requirement and standard. Anything short of this is tantamount to a breach of equity and requires urgent intervention," the statement concluded.
