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{
    "id": 1267116,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1267116/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 309,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The officials of NCPWD have brought to this House the difficulty they encounter in fulfilling their responsibilities due to inadequate staffing. In order to address this concern, it is essential for the county governments and administration officers to play a role in identifying PWDs and facilitating their registration across the country. By working in collaboration, we can alleviate this burden and ensure that support is given to PWDs. The Bill seeks to review the membership of the NCPWD to ensure that the Council is more efficient and representative. The Bill also requires county governments to only approve plans for the construction of roads and buildings that take into account accessibility and universal design provisions. The ever prevalence notion that accessibility is just providing a ramp or lift is narrow-minded. Without education in universal design, we run the risk of forever believing that being accommodative to PWDs means only building ramps and lifts because that is all we need to be compliant with. That is wrong. Madam Temporary Speaker, allow me to take us all to a quick universal design class. The built environment should be meticulously designed, constructed and maintained, to facilitate orientation and ensure safety. In my world of inclusive transport and mobility, orientation specifically means the ability to navigate, identify potential hazards and determine when one has reached the destination. For example, when designing pathways, it is crucial to ensure that an adequate width, free from obstacles, with a continuous, firm, durable, and slip resistance surface is provided for. Appropriate measures such as universally designed drop-curves, tactile paving and handrails should also be incorporated to avoid accidents and injuries. To allow for the passage of two wheelchair users, a minimum unobstructed width of 1.8 metres is recommended, so that in case of a fire outbreak, then sufficient space is provided to prevent causalities. In the case of ramps, they should have a surface width of at least 1.2 meters. further, both the foot and the head of the sloped path, stepped path or ramp should have an “N” landing. It is also important to include guard rails alongside ramps to ensure safety of wheelchair users and pedestrians who require extra support preventing injuries that may occur during falls. These intricacies are often overlooked by our architects, urban designers, construction companies and agencies but are vital in creating truly accessible environments for all to use. Madam Temporary Speaker, I experienced a concerning issue in the City Hall building. An institution entrusted with safety of all of us in Kenya including the People with Disabilities (PWDs). For a period of time, the building had no functioning lifts resulting in restricted access for PWDs and other individuals with limited mobility such as the elderly, attempting to reach specific offices on various floors. If City Hall, an entity that needs to lead by example fails to uphold these requirements, how can we expect other institutions to comply."
}