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{
"id": 784484,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/784484/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. A.B. Duale",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
"slug": "aden-duale"
},
"content": "Hon. Speaker, I beg to present a Petition on behalf of the Kenya Deaf Community regarding their plight. I, the undersigned, on behalf of the members of the Kenya Deaf Community, draw the attention of the House to the following: THAT, Article 27 (4) of the Constitution provides that the State shall not discriminate directly or indirectly against any person on any ground, including disability. Further, that Section 12 (1) of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2003 provides that no persons shall deny a person with disability access to opportunities for suitable employment; THAT, Article 54 (2) of the Constitution provides that the State shall ensure progressive implementation of the principle that, at least, 5 per cent of the members of the public in elective and appointive bodies are persons with disabilities; THAT, it is alleged that no qualified deaf or hard of hearing person has been appointed as a cabinet secretary, principal secretary, ambassador, commissioner, director or any other significant position in the Public Service since the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya; THAT, the current allocation of Kshs10 million for the development and use of Kenya Sign Language for training programmes awarded to service providers for provisions of sign language training services is insufficient; THAT, despite the effective and constant involvement of the deaf in the political parties’ activities, no deaf person has ever been nominated to Parliament or county assembly; THAT, the Government’s financial support towards the participation by the deaf or hard of hearing persons in sports and other recreational activities is very inadequate; THAT, there has been inadequate training of health workers with regards to Kenya Sign Language hence hindering access of quality health services by the deaf; ` THAT, there is a delay in the access of justice by the deaf as the Judiciary does not have adequate sign language interpreters; FURTHER THAT, there is need for the media to ensure that the deaf and the hard of hearing have access to information; THAT, efforts to resolve this matter with the relevant Government agencies have been futile; and, THAT, the matter presented in this Petition is not pending before any tribunal, court of law or independent body THEREFORE, your humble Petitioners pray that the National Assembly, through the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare and the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs: 1. Considers urgently the plight of the deaf or hard of hearing persons with a view to recommending their nomination to various positions in public office; 2. Those Committees should appropriate adequate funds to support the promotion and development of sign language, training of health workers on sign language and hiring of sign language interpreters in the Judiciary; 3. Amend the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2003, to provide for the establishment of a special fund to facilitate research in Kenya Sign Language development and training; 4. Amend the Elections Act, 2011, to provide for political parties to nominate deaf and hard of hearing persons to elective bodies; 5. Ensure that the Petitioners’ plight is addressed; and, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}