Disabled people support proposals in new law

By Stella Mwangi and Antony Gitonga

People with disabilities have called upon Kenyans to adopt the Harmonised Draft Constitution.

Giving their position in Nakuru on Sunday, 120 delegates from various disability organisations said the draft constitution had taken into account the interests of the disabled.

"The interests of the disabled have to a large extent been secured in the draft," they said.

In a joint press release read on their behalf by the Disability Civil Society Coalition technical committee chairperson Salome Kimata, they said the draft should, however, rectify some critical areas concerning them.

"We have identified some areas that need to be reviewed mainly concerning communication and political representation," they said.

They said sign language should be categorised as a national language alongside Kiswahili and English languages.

"We also recommend that sign language be taught in schools as well," they said.

They also asked that some words and expressions used in the draft be deleted as they considered them to be derogatory.

"The word ‘unsound’ mind should be deleted and replaced with ‘special’ in reference to people with mental disability. This will enable them enjoy affirmative action through nomination to the National Assembly," they said.

They also said people with disabilities should be de-linked from the youth when it comes to nomination to Parliament.

Meanwhile, Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli has termed the sharing of Executive power between the Prime Minister and President in the harmonised draft constitution as a recipe for chaos.

Atwoli joined those opposing a powerful PM appointed by Parliament, adding it would create two centres of powers.