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{
    "id": 1201997,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1201997/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 251,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "When a high school is not universally designed, teenagers miss out on integral adolescent education to take them forward in their lives. When a work place is not universally designed, we miss out on employment. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, just a few minutes ago, I had lunch with Hon. Tim Wanyonyi and members of Kenya Disability Parliamentary Association (KEDIPA). We spoke about how PWDs are left so far behind that when a building or school is inaccessible, it means that we probably will only start school at the age of 12, 13, 14 or 15. That is why you will find most of the times PWDs starting Grade One at the age of 20, 25 or 30. Poverty as well as inaccessibility play a big role in that. I feel there was a bit of gap in the development plan laid out by His Excellency the President. Universal design, like I said, is not just in infrastructure or buildings. It is also about the roads and transport system. Many times I have not been able to travel or go to a city centre because of non-inclusive transport and road network. That means that I have missed out on many opportunities. I have seen my colleagues, high school mates, family and friends going about their lives while I remain stuck. This is not just my story. It is the reality of approximately 0.9 million PWDs in the country. Universal design is extremely important. I wish His Excellency the President considers that in development plans and activities. The next issue I want to talk about are budgets. I have said this before but not on the Floor of the House. The number of PWDs, according to the 2019 population census, has been contested widely by PWDs. Before the 2019 census, we were just above 4 million PWDs in the country. Post- 2019 census, we have now gone down to 0.9 million PWDs. This affects our budgets and equitable allocations. That is the main reason why we are suffering in terms of not being represented and not being seen and heard in different areas of development in the country. I urge His Excellency the President to consider how we can look for possible remedies to cure the disparity in the data. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to share---"
}