Persons with disabilities should not only be viewed as beneficiaries of government programmes but should also take part in shaping the policies and decisions that affect their lives, Secretary for Administration in the Office of the President, Isaac Mwaura has said.
Mwaura said their involvement in Kenya’s democratic affairs must go beyond voting to include participation in political parties, public debates, leadership and the development of government policies.
He spoke during an inaugural stakeholders’ meeting at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) on Thursday, where he also highlighted the need for proper allocation and use of public funds meant for persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
“The government is keen on ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully accounted for in the distribution and utilisation of resources,” Mwaura said.
He said budget planning was being given attention to ensure every county and different groups of beneficiaries are catered for.
Mwaura challenged stakeholders in the disability sector to help monitor the use of funds and ensure the resources provided by the government reach the people they are meant to support.
He said political inclusion was equally important, noting that the voices of persons with disabilities could be missed when they are not present in the spaces where public decisions are made.
“Political participation should not be limited to voting,” he said, adding that it should also include the ability to engage with political parties, seek leadership positions, participate in public debate and contribute to policy development.
He urged political parties, policymakers and other stakeholders to make room for concerns affecting persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups in policy discussions.
Mwaura further called for the removal of barriers that continue to limit the ability of persons with disabilities to participate in democratic activities.
“For persons with disabilities, meaningful political participation also depends on practical accessibility, including access to information, voting processes, public meetings and other democratic spaces,” he said.
He said organisations representing persons with disabilities also have a responsibility to present the concerns of their members to policymakers and ensure their views are clearly communicated.
“People who are affected by public policies should have an opportunity to help shape the decisions that affect their lives,” Mwaura said.
The meeting also examined challenges facing special needs education, with KISE Director Dr Norman Kiogora announcing that the institution is undertaking a nationwide assessment of schools and institutions serving learners with disabilities.
Kiogora said the exercise is assessing the condition of infrastructure, accessibility, learning facilities, assistive devices and human resources in the institutions.
The exercise also involves geotagging schools and institutions as well as assistive devices to establish the distribution of services and equipment across the country.
“The information helps expose disparities between regions and identify communities where learners may have limited access to specialised educational facilities,” he said.
Kiogora said the findings would give the government a stronger basis for deciding where more classrooms, equipment, personnel and accessibility improvements are required.
He said the assessment would help identify gaps in the provision of specialised education and show areas that require additional support.
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Kenya Country Director Mathias Kamp said tackling the challenges affecting marginalised communities would require cooperation between the government, civil society, private sector and development partners.
“Inclusion requires more than individual programmes because lasting change depends on institutions, systems and processes that can continue delivering results over time,” Kamp said.
Kamp said disability inclusion touches on education, employment, technology, infrastructure, public services, political participation and economic empowerment.
He said the wide range of areas affected by disability inclusion makes joint action necessary among the different stakeholders involved.