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{
    "id": 784502,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/784502/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 31,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Nyikal",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 434,
        "legal_name": "James Nyikal",
        "slug": "james-nyikal"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I must start by thanking the Leader of the Majority Party for bringing the Petition. It is not in the spirit of the historic handshake, but he has brought a very important Petition. If you look at Article 54 of our Constitution, it addresses all the issues that we have indicated. That is whether they have access to education, access to buildings and access to lifts. I would probably add for the Leader of the Majority Party that there is a lot more to be done. The Persons with Disabilities Act has laid out what needs to be done. There are regulations that have been passed that are dealing with visually impaired people, physically impaired people and people with impaired hearing. In fact, it is illegal and they can take us to court. When many of us go to lifts and find that there is a lift with braille and a lift that is talking, it is not that, that is an advanced lift. It is the requirement of the law so that people who are visually handicapped can know what floor they are and people who have a hearing impairment can know where they are. Another important part that has not been implemented is how people with physical handicaps access vehicles. Have you wondered how people, who are physically handicapped, particularly with wheelchairs, get into buses and matatus ? We had a conference about three years ago where we felt that all our roads should have designated places which are raised. All our buses should be in such a way that the floor of the bus is flat and level with the platform so that they can wheel themselves in. All these things are in law. If we could follow up, the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, which is dealing with this issue, can look up that conference. It was there. It shows how buildings, vehicles, trains and lifts should be constructed. If this Petition gets more Members with disabilities into the Committees, they will pursue these issues. It will be a great day for us that people with disabilities in Kenya can live as freely as in other countries. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}