The National Council for Persons with Disability has called for a consultative meeting with public and private sector partners to develop regulations for implementation in the new PWD's Act, 2025.
The meeting, which is set to be held at the end of this month, targets to come up with regulations and legal framework to enforce the Act, with top priority being enforcement of preservation of five per cent employment slots for persons with disability and creation of disability inclusive workplaces.
NCPWD disability inclusion officer Steve Mugambi said most organisations in public and private sectors are struggling with the directive adding that the new Act, which has come out strongly on the matter should be enforced to the latter.
He said according to the latest data, persons with disability only make 1.8 per cent of the civil service. This is way far behind the five per cent.
The new Act, which has given more functions and powers to the NCPWD, will see each state department put to task to implement the rule.
"This is going to be integrated in the performance contracts. All public sector institutions are going to be held accountable for employment of persons with disability," he said.
Even though there is no data in the private sector, Mugambi said the new Act has empowered NCPWD to ensure the sector complies with the new regulations.
He spoke in Kisumu during a sensitisation workshop on disability inclusive employment.
Mugambi said the council will hold sessions with the Federation of Kenya employers and other state entities to develop the regulations and set time frames on their implementation.
Other issues to be considered are the skill gaps in the education sector to enhance the transition of PWDs from education to the job market.
The workshop organised by the International Labour Organisation in partnership with the Federation of Kenya Employers, Ministry of Labour and Central Organisation of Trade Unions, targets to create awareness on the new Act and challenges facing implementation of the five per cent preservation of job opportunities.
According to ILO national programme coordinator Hellen Amakobe, the initiative is part of a two year project funded by the Global Disability Fund to strengthen systems on policy and programmes to enhance disability inclusiveness in the country.
The project, which is being implemented in partnership with UNFPA and Unicef, seeks to advance the rights of PWDs.
Amakobe said the project will support legislative work, policy development, disability inclusive services, national planning programmes mainstreaming and enhance coordination.
She said mainstreaming of PWDs in the public and private sectors, remains a big challenge, adding that through the collaborations, the five per cent quota would be attained.
"We do not have disability inclusive provisions across the sectors. There is a need for us to step up efforts to scale up disability services across board," Amakobe said.
FKE Western Kenya officer incharge Thomas Achok said all employershave been sensitised on the need to accommodate PWDs in the workplace.
