Professor Michael Ndurumo, East Africa’s pioneering deaf academic and founder of the Africa Institute of Deaf Studies and Research, has been recognised as the 2025 United Nations in Kenya Person of the Year for his exceptional contribution to disability rights and inclusive education.
The award was presented on Friday during the 80th anniversary celebrations of the United Nations at the UN Office in Nairobi. Widely acknowledged as Kenya’s Father of Sign Language, Prof Ndurumo has been instrumental in creating and promoting the Kenyan Sign Language (KSL), which is now used nationally and has spread to neighbouring countries, including South Sudan.
Prof Ndurumo’s work has dramatically improved how deaf individuals access education, communicate, and participate in societal activities.
He has been at the forefront of media accessibility, successfully drafting legislation that mandates all Kenyan television stations to provide sign language interpretation during news broadcasts, ensuring deaf citizens receive information in real time.
In shaping the country’s legal framework for persons with disabilities, Prof Ndurumo played a key role in drafting the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2003, which was later updated in 2025, and advocated for the inclusion of KSL in the 2010 Constitution as one of Kenya’s three national languages.
At the UNON ceremony in Gigiri, Prof Ndurumo described the award as a recognition not just for him, but for the entire community of persons with disabilities in Kenya.
"What began as a modest effort to create a tool for communication evolved into a national achievement,” he said. “Today, Kenyan Sign Language is recognised in our Constitution as one of our country’s three national languages, a milestone that still fills me with pride. Of course, the journey was not easy. I had to prove that sign language could enhance learning outcomes for deaf students.”
Prof Ndurumo’s decades-long commitment has left a lasting mark on Kenya’s education, legal, and communication systems, creating a legacy of inclusion and equality that continues to inspire change across East Africa.
