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{
    "id": 651050,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/651050/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 344,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "contents of this amendment Bill explain the life of a person with a disability in Kenya and other countries. Although we, as a country, have made progress in dealing with issues affecting persons with disabilities, we still have to put more effort and have more passion for persons with disabilities. Issues of disability should concern every Kenyan because we are all potential members. It is a club that one can join any time. It is easier to join the club than it is to leave it. The issue of accessibility needs to be considered critically. Everyone has to be put into consideration depending on the type of disability and its unique needs. We, as a country, fail when we do not consider the needs of a person according to the type of disability as well as meaningful involvement of the user of the services and resources that we provide. We now have a devolved system of government and learners with disabilities are the most affected when looking at resource allocation. Unequal distribution of resources in the education sector is a major setback. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have been involved in solving cases where county governments construct Early Childhood and Development Education (ECDE) classes without considering learners with disabilities who will use them. You will find that learners with disabilities are put in one classroom without considering the size of class and level of education. This hinders learning. A learner with disability cannot acquire quality education. This is despite the fact that he or she competes in the job market like any other Kenyan. We are treated like second class citizens in each and every area. In any discussion, we are considered as persons with disabilities. There is no where we are considered as first class citizens. It is so alarming. When the country has many persons with disabilities who are not considered and no structures are put in place, then we cannot fight poverty. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, allow me to talk about the issue of sign language interpretation. On television, persons with disabilities are told to use the numbers that are running on the screen yet a visually impaired person also needs to follow the news. It discriminates and continues to do so. I fail to understand this; as a person with disability, you are limited on the programmes you can watch on television because it is only during news hour that some media houses provide sign language interpreters. However, persons with hearing impairment are left out of other social programmes that follow after news. In addition, when an institution is looking at laying off employees to reduce the wage bill, the most targeted people are persons with disabilities. I would like to use the example of Mumias Sugar Company. They are struggling to do away with employees with disabilities simply because they want to reduce the wage bill. The Persons Living with Disability Act gives protection to persons with disabilities. They should not be touched simply because it is not easy to get employment. It takes time for them to get education and once they are absorbed somewhere, whether there is a problem, they should not be targeted as a measure to improve the performance of the institution. They should continue to work so long as they can perform and have the capacity to do so. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, if this Bill becomes law and it is implemented, it will change the way we treat persons with disabilities. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}