12 Challenges only disabled people in Kenya can relate to

1. Only in Kenya where most government documents are written “physically challenged” in reference to persons with disabilities.

2. Only in Kenya both Government and private sector demand for a driving license even when they know Blind and Deaf-Blind persons will never drive on the Kenyan roads. Thus, denial of employment opportunity.

3. Only in Kenya where we pay for the long and dreary processes of acquiring the disabled card while the national identity card is readily available and it's free.

4. Only in Kenya where government service providers ask someone to explain his or her disability before service is offered or denied. I wonder if other non-disabled citizens undergo this trauma.

5. Only in Kenya where Kenya revenue Authority demands the renewal of tax exemption certificates to the disabled persons as if the permanently disabled persons got a miracle. You wonder why Kenya claims to be an IT herb while the KRA system can’t just update itself.

6. Only in Kenya where the invisibly disabled persons are not recognized, and lots of explanation is done.

7. Only in Kenya persons with disabilities have to organize themselves to educate service providers of their roles and responsibilities in service delivery to disabled persons.

8. Only in Kenya where most government offices are either inaccessible or located in inaccessible places.

9. Only in Kenya where most government websites are inaccessible and do not offer alternative formats in the documentation.

10. Only in Kenya where most public and private adverts are written “Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply,” but they don’t take any extra measure to ensure disabled persons are brought on board.

11. Only in Kenya where disabled persons pay for the “disabled car sticker” for packing and even the disabled packing is already occupied by the non-disabled individuals.

12. Only in Kenya where disabled artists, musicians, sportspersons beg for government or private sector sponsorship to participate in both local and international events and obligations.

 

The views expressed here are for the author and do not represent any agency or organization.

 Mugambi Paul is a public policy and diversity and inclusion expert.