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{
    "id": 1511543,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1511543/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 619,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Thika Town, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Alice Nga’ng’a",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "numerous challenges in their daily lives. They are the ultimate hustlers among us. It is our duty to be their champions and voice in line with the Kenya Kwanza Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda and in the spirit of the Constitution. Last week, I joined other dignitaries and persons with disabilities in commemorating 20-years celebration of disability inclusion in Kenya, an event that was organised by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and its partners. It was encouraging to note that the many milestones the disability sector has achieved since independence, especially since the signing into law of the Persons with Disabilities Act by the late President Mzee Mwai Kibaki. At the time, the Bill was tabled by the Minister for Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services, Hon. Najib Balala and seconded by the Assistant Minister in the Office of the President, who later became the Makueni County Governor, Hon Kivutha Kibwana. It obtained huge support in this House, and Hon. Amina Mohammed is on record as having stated that a society judged by how well it treats its disadvantaged persons. Despite the noble achievement of passing the law, the disability law in its current form does not fully conform to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Kenya ratified in 2008, and the Constitution of Kenya which was promulgated in 2010. The current Bill before the House seeks to give effect to Article 54 of the Constitution and align disability law with the supreme law of the land. For instance, the Bill proposes the introduction of a representative nominated by the Council of Governors to the board of the Council, so that the county governments can also participate fully in the disability inclusion agenda. Hon. Temporary Speaker, we laud the effort by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities led by its Executive Director, Mr. Harun Hassan, to work with the Council of Governors, led by Ms Mary Mwiti, in creating a county disability engagement framework on matters of disability. It is the understanding that the role of county governments and their vast administrative network and framework needs to be fully included in the law for better coordination. There are numerous areas which the Bill seeks to address including, accessibility challenges in our buildings, as well as employment for persons with disabilities. Fourteen years since the promulgation of the Constitution, Kenya is yet to achieve the five per cent employment threshold for persons with disabilities, in line with Article 54(2) of the Constitution. As a matter of fact, the status report of the compliance with values and principles in Articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution places the share of employed persons with disabilities in the public service at a meagre 1.53 per cent. This is a signal that they are left behind in the process of nation building and are economically disfranchised. Gone are the days when disability was viewed simply as a mere special interest group. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that the global disability prevalence stands at 16 per cent of the general population. The number of persons with disabilities has increased substantially in the past 10 years due to various demographic changes such as rise in population and increase in number of people with non-communicable diseases, who are living longer and age with limitations in functions. It is also equally unfortunate but true that road accidents are playing a key role in causing disabilities, particularly among our youthful population. I thank members of the public who made their voice heard through their submissions to this Bill. I also thank the numerous stakeholders who gave us important insights to come up with this product. I particularly, thank the National Council for Persons with Disabilities led by the Executive Director, Harun Hassan who is a person with disability. He is a true representative of the people with disabilities, through the constant engagements they held with the Committee since its establishment, lobbying for this Bill and other disability issues. Following the Committee’s interaction with the Bill and the various stakeholders, it is the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on Social Protection that the Persons with Disabilities Bill (Senate Bill No.7 of 2023) be passed by the House, with a few amendments"
}