Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Kenya continue to face exclusion in multiple spheres of life, often hindered by environments that do not accommodate their mobility and accessibility needs.
Affordable Housing Board (AHB) Acting CEO Joseph Kagicha said that this inequality restricts their ability to live independent and fulfilling lives, forcing many to rely on assistance for everyday tasks.
Kagicha explained that after recognising these challenges, the Kenyan government enacted the Persons with Disabilities Act (2003), which mandates that both public and private buildings be designed or retrofitted with infrastructure that caters to the needs of PWDs.
He disclosed that despite this legal framework, many spaces remain inaccessible, creating unnecessary barriers for approximately 2.2 percent of the population of about 900,000 people living with various physical disabilities, according to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census.
“Through establishment of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, the government set in motion a mechanism to address the interest of persons with disabilities, where the council consults with the government in the provision of suitable and affordable housing for persons with disabilities (Kenya’s Persons with Disabilities Act and the 2010 Constitution),” he said.
According to the Kenya Housing Survey report of 2023-24, only a small fraction of families with disabilities reported “excellent” accessibility to their dwelling units, making it difficult for most disabled people to access the living quarters on their own and with ease.
“In the rush to meet the 250,000 annual housing deficit the country is facing, we have continuously overlooked how to provide for this special group,” said Kagicha.
The CEO added that the private sector has done a tremendous job in the construction sector in reducing the housing deficit, but still their designs historically lack disability-inclusive features characterised by a combination of weak regulations.
He said that this perhaps points out the reason why millions of Kenyans with mobility difficulties are poorly served by existing housing stocks.
In some cases, visitors who are disabled have challenges accessing amenities in their host’s houses simply because of design.
“To access a toilet, one has to go down a staircase only to find the toilet closets are too small to accommodate a wheelchair,” said Kagicha.
He pointed out that several interventions and initiatives have been put in place by the government and the private sector to enhance equality and inclusivity in the housing sector.
A key initiative is the government’s Affordable Housing Programme (AHP), which stands out in providing dignified affordable housing units to Kenyans from all walks of life.
Kagicha explained that the programme has embedded inclusivity from planning to execution, including in architecture, social amenities, and community services where architects who design these mass housing projects strewn all over the country are not only focused on classy designs but have also incorporated inclusive designs among them, wide-axis circulation in floor plans for wheelchairs, ramps, automatic doors, and elevators.
The CEO said that this explains why projects such as Mukuru and Kileleshwa are characterized by ramps and gently sloped walkways alongside stairs, wide doorways and corridors suitable for wheelchairs, accessible lifts and handrails in multi-storey units, and tactile signage and Braille indicators in public spaces for visually impaired residents.
He added that compared to historical designs in the real estate sector, AHP projects have strategically positioned these amenities meant for people with disabilities as easily accessible as possible.
“An example is a special parking bay situated close to entrances and accessible public toilets and bathing facilities in shared amenities that are specifically labelled for exclusive use of disabled persons,” said Kagicha.
He said that inclusivity is not only physical but also social, adding that mixed-income and -ability communities, like Affordable Housing foster connection and prevent marginalised groups, like persons with disabilities, from being “shut out” of society.
“Other than social inclusivity, technology and innovation techniques such as low-level switches for residents with mobility challenges and adaptive lighting for the visually impaired residents have been implemented to ensure equity and liberty for all,” he said.
Moving forward, Kagicha said that the entire construction industry, including both private and public sector projects, should emulate all-inclusive designs to create a housing future in which purchase and ownership will be based on interest and not ability.
He said that this approach, often found in social housing, rent-to-own schemes, and housing cooperatives, changes the focus from who can afford to buy right now to who needs the home and is willing to invest in it over time.
Kagicha said that although implementation of all-inclusive designs in the past has been inconsistent, especially in the private sector, the National Housing Policy provides the legal and planning foundation for inclusive housing, ensuring that accessibility and inclusivity is integrated from architectural design to construction and final occupancy.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
