Bill to enable hearing impaired follow court sessions sponsored

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

The two Senators recommend that the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Education should ensure KSL in digital form contains an inscription in standard English as a medium of instruction and establish a scheme for the provision of KSL classes to the parents, siblings and grandparents of a child who is deaf.

"That under the scheme for the provision of the KSL, the classes will also extend to educational support for deaf learners and other persons who may serve as a guardian or primary caregiver to a child who is deaf or who have difficult in hearing," reads the bill.

The bill by Kamar and Asige suggests that the Kenya Institute for Curriculum Development (KICD) shall develop, review and approve appropriate programmes and curriculum support materials for learners who are deaf and with challenges in hearing.

KICD is required to carry out a comprehensive assessment and review of the programmes, curriculum support programmes and instructional materials for learners who are deaf In carrying out the review and assessment, the Institute shall invite and collaborate authors to submit published works relevant to the curriculum for deaf learners for purposes of inclusion as curriculum support materials.

The bill further provides that a person who wishes to provide Kenyan sign language interpretation services shall apply for registration by the Ministry responsible for matters relating to education in accordance with such criteria and procedures as may be prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary.

"The National and county governments have the responsibility to promote and encourage the use of basic Kenyan sign language among its deaf and hearing employees, set aside adequate funds for the promotion of Kenyan sign language and conduct awareness and training seminars on the use of the Kenyan sign language," reads the bill.