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{
    "id": 620776,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/620776/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 110,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mwaura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13129,
        "legal_name": "Isaac Maigua Mwaura",
        "slug": "isaac-mwaura"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Deputy Speaker, there have been many instances where individuals with disabilities have been denied access to public buildings because they are not ordinary customers. When they are seen there they are viewed as beggars and are chased away. Why? This is because they would not ordinarily go to such places. Maybe, it looks obvious that when we constitute our built environment all of us will actually access it. I want to inform this House that if there is one great challenge that persons with disabilities are facing, it is the non-implementation of the building code and the minimum accessibility standards which have been developed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to actually give the exact measurements of accessible units, for example, ramps. Those are the issues that are making it very difficult for persons with disabilities to access education, health services, justice and participate in the political process including voting because most of the polling stations are in primary schools. That is a major concern. If you look, for example, at the 30 per cent preferential procurement, you will realise that the greatest uptake is by women followed by the youth. Persons with disabilities are not able to compete for the reservation that is affirmative action. Why is it the case? These are the inherent systemic discriminatory measures that make them unable to access those offices and participate too. This is a major concern. Recently, this House passed the National Physical Planning Act that was a constitutional requirement. I had to try very hard and ensure that there was representation of persons with disabilities at the National Physical Planning Consultative Forum. That was the case and yet that is a very critical element in terms of ensuring that the built environment, our development and physical planning take into consideration the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities. Indeed, when I was moving those amendments, I remember the issue was that we were doing affirmative action. So, this country has not been able to see the demographic that persons with disabilities are an integral part of the society. Their needs and concerns are not a matter of charity, welfare or favourtism but rights that are inherent and inalienable, and for sure entitlements. When we conceptualize disability, we think that it is a concern of other people. We think that it does not affect us and yet we know very well that disability comes with age. Many of us in this Parliament will be affected in one way or the other. Indeed, we say; “today you can go out there and be involved in an accident”. We have Members of this House who came here when they were physically well but have been affected over time. I will mention them because they are Members of our caucus. They are Sen. Sammy Leshore and Hon. Dennitah Ghati. So, when we are making the built environment and public buildings accessible to persons with disabilities, we are actually insuring ourselves so that incase that happens one will not find it difficult to continue participating on an equal basis with others. This is because your human rights and fundamental freedom in the society are guaranteed. Indeed, we say “disability is a club, anybody can be a member and there is no application”. I would like to say that, if you look at the institutions that have been given the mandate to execute our building plans, you will find that they have completely failed. Kenya is rowed with stories of collapsing buildings. If you visit various places, you will find that buildings are basically poorly constructed, are not well lit and spaced. People are living in concrete blocks that are slums. That is the general apathy that we find in terms of the construction industry in this country. This is the case and yet the concern for proper housing and accessible buildings remains germane because this country has a very high deficit of buildings. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}