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{
"id": 1381491,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1381491/?format=api",
"text_counter": 285,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Reports show that when you hire a PWD, you increase productivity, innovation and loyalty. This is because with few chances for employment, we, PWDs, stick close to the people that give us opportunities and we are loyal to those organisations. Reports also show that when you hire a PWD, you increase empathy within the workforce. You increase belonging and understanding of diversity because of sharing the same space with other non-disabled counterparts in the workforce. In Kenya, statistics show that out of approximately 18 million people in our workforce in the formal sector, approximately 500,000 are PWDs. That is less than 3 per cent of our workforce right now. That is abysmal! As I said before, the workforce in the PSC only accounts for 1.4 per cent PWDs. Through this Bill, I wish to see this number increase rapidly because we have been waiting for far too long to be represented fully within the Public Service Commission and other boards. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I hope that the co-sponsor of this Bill, that is, Sen. Cherarkey, will listen keenly to what I am about to suggest. There is something in the disabled community, which is a real challenge to us. First of all, the public must understand that within the disabled community, there is diversity therein. People with Disabilities (PWDs) are not homogenous. We are diverse in our disabilities. That means that when you are hiring and giving opportunities for participation and inclusion of PWDs, we need to make sure that we are diverse in the types of disabilities we are catering to. What does that mean? That means that in this Report, we are supposed to find out clearly how many are visually impaired or blind, how many are employed that are deaf, wheelchair users, autistic, have downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, quadriplegic and so on. We should not just rest at saying that we have hired 10 people with albinism and, therefore, we are working and are in line with the Constitution. No! We need to go further and make sure that the people with disabilities we are hiring are also diverse by the nature of their disability. This is so that we give different sectors within the disabled community a chance at employment and to be represented at all levels. It is not enough to just say that we have one or two disabilities represented, and that it is okay; we are fine now and we have adhered to what this particular Bill asks us to do. We need to go further than that. I suggest to Sen. Cherarkey, the Senator for Nandi County, to make sure that the word ‘diverse disabilities’ is also included in this amendment, not just ‘persons with disabilities’ but ‘persons with diverse disabilities. This is so that we make sure that all sectors of our disabled community and the fraternity at large are also being given a chance at employment and representation in our country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is a well-known fact that many in the public and private sector do hire those with easier - I will put this in quotes, I am going to be careful and sensitive but this is an ongoing argument in the community – “easier to handle” disabilities. This is because it is thought that when you hire a blind person like myself, it means that you will have to hire an aide for me to work properly and get assistive equipment, including computers, Information Technology (IT) software, which are The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}