Persons with Disabilities in Kericho County have been sensitised on their rights and entitlements under the newly enacted Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, a transformative law that seeks to guarantee full inclusion, equality, and protection for all Kenyans with disabilities.
The Act provides a detailed framework for inclusion and equal opportunity by setting out a broad Bill of Rights for persons with disabilities that guarantees access to education, employment, healthcare, justice, and protection from discrimination or abuse.
The Bill affirms equality before the law and respect for human dignity as anchored in Article 54 of the Constitution and further outlines specific obligations for both the national and county governments to ensure accessibility, fair representation, and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities.
Speaking during a Kericho County Disability Awareness Forum held in Kericho Town, the County Ambassador for Persons with Disabilities, Mr Philip Muge, said the government’s enactment of the new law was a bold affirmation of its unwavering commitment to equality, inclusion, and human rights.
Muge described the legislation as a milestone that consolidates Kenya’s gains in disability rights and creates a structured platform for future reforms, coordination, and service delivery for persons with disabilities.
He explained that the awareness forum sought to educate Persons with Disabilities and their caregivers about the provisions of the Act, enabling them to understand the rights and privileges available to them under the new legal framework.
He emphasised that coordination between national and county governments is central to the Act’s success, especially in healthcare, rehabilitation, education, and employment sectors, and urged counties to establish disability committees and databases as provided in the law to ensure proper identification, monitoring, and targeted service delivery to persons with disabilities across regions.
At the same time, Muge appealed to counties to prioritize the procurement of high-quality assistive devices that meet international standards, lamenting that in some cases low-quality equipment had been supplied to persons with Disabilities thereby compromising users’ safety and independence.
He proposed that the Kericho County Referral Hospital acquire a modern audiometer to enable persons with hearing impairments to access proper diagnosis.
The County Ambassador for Persons with Disabilities also highlighted education as the cornerstone of empowerment, urging both levels of government to expand scholarship and sponsorship programmes for learners with disabilities.
He noted that the new Act guarantees free and compulsory basic education for all children with disabilities and called for this clause to be fully implemented in every county to close the existing gaps in access to education and retention.
He also underscored the need for proper representation of persons with disabilities in leadership, policy-making, and development committees at all levels, explaining that meaningful inclusion can only be realised when they have a voice in shaping the decisions that affect them.
Muge noted that such representation should reflect gender balance, regional diversity, and integrity to ensure effective advocacy.
“Both public and private employers must also remember their legal duty to reserve at least five per cent of all employment opportunities for persons with disabilities as provided in the Act, and this is not only a legal requirement but also a moral and developmental imperative that enhances productivity and equality in the workplace,” Muge said.
He commended the government for its continued efforts to uphold the 30 per cent affirmative action rule in public procurement, noting that the policy has opened opportunities for businesses and cooperatives owned or managed by persons with disabilities to compete fairly for government contracts.
However, he urged for stepped-up implementation to ensure that no qualified person with a disability is left out.
He also called for intensified awareness and collaboration between the government, private sector, and development partners to promote inclusive environments in workplaces, schools, and public institutions.
By Kibe Mburu
