Persons living with disabilities are still disadvantaged

There is a common saying attributed to Mahatma Gandhi that the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members. Kenya’s national values and principles of governance include, among others, inclusiveness, equality, non-discrimination, and protection of the marginalised. As such, our society ideally is one where the vulnerable and marginalised are treated as other members of society, where there is equal opportunity for all.

In political participation, an area where often time the weak and vulnerable are likely to be left behind, Kenya’s progressive Constitution includes everyone. The establishment of electoral bodies including the National Assembly, the Senate, and 47 county assemblies is indeed expected to ensure that decision-making, which comes through political representation, is all-inclusive.