Kenya’s milestones towards inclusion of PWDs in the Development Agenda

Kenya has implemented various reforms and initiatives at national and county levels to address the rights and needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). These range from policy and legal reforms and frameworks to programmes, projects and activities that seek to mainstream disability and to offer support to PWDs. The policy frameworks targeting PWDs are anchored on the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) while at the regional level, there exist the Protocol (1998) to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (1986) on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as East Africa Community Policy on Persons with Disabilities (2008).

At national level, the country has enacted the Persons with Disabilities Act (2003) and established the National Council for Persons with Disabilities to champion rights of PWDs as well as developed a plan of action on disability mainstreaming. There are also other national policies and plans that support disability mainstreaming initiatives including in gender, employment and procurement. Various sectors like housing, health, education and transport also have policies, plans, standards and measures that strengthen disability mainstreaming.