- The legislation intends to eliminate barriers faced by deaf people in public space
- The Bill is sponsored by ODM nominated MP Umulkher Harun Mohamed.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO
State agencies and learning institutions will be compelled to acquire assistive devices for the deaf if MPs pass a new bill.
The Sign Language Bill, 2024 which is currently before Parliament, intends to eliminate barriers faced by deaf people in public space.
The Bill is sponsored by ODM nominated MP Umulkher Harun Mohamed.
The proposed legislation seeks amongst others to eliminate discrimination that has existed in the public service, which has blocked the deaf, the hard to hear and the deaf blind from accessing crucial government services.
The Bill also seeks to develop framework for sign language in the country through regular registration of interpreters.
It also seeks to ensure that deaf learners are given the same opportunities as all other learners to be productive members of society.
“The object and purpose of the Act is to provide a framework for the recognition, promotion, research, preservation and development of the use of the Kenya Sign Language as contemplated under Article 7 (3) (b) and 120 of the Constitution,” the Bill states.
“The Bill also provide framework for the inclusion of the Deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind community in all aspects of the society, in order to eliminate all forms of discrimination including in areas of communication, employment, information and education.”
“The Bill also facilitates access to information, educational institutions and facilities as contemplated under article 54 (1) of the Constitution.”
Article 54 (1) (d) of the Constitution provides that a person with any disability is entitled to use sign language, braille or other appropriate means of communication.
There has been public outcry on addressing the needs of deaf people especially in government offices and learning institutions in the country.
If the Bill is approved, sign language will become the third official language after Kiswahili and English and will be used in all government offices, schools and courts.
In the Umulkher bill, provision of tactile assistive devices will be mandatory to ease communication.
Tactile is a format that facilitates reading through the use of touch as Braille, embossed maps or hand on hand feeling of sign language for the Deaf blind and the blind.
Under the proposed law, sign interpreters will be required to register in an ID to regulate sign language interpretation in the country.
The legislative proposal further proposes establishment of the Kenyan Sign Language Council to regulate sign language interpretation.
The council will also be mandated with promotion and use of Kenyan sign language and undertake research and create awareness of the culture and heritage of the deaf community in the country.
It will set and enforce standards for the training, practice and use of sign language and interpretation and register and licence interpreters.
The council will maintain a register and keep a record of all sign language interpreters registered in the country and determine the minimum fees chargeable for the provision of service.
Kenya ratified the UN General Assembly's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008, which required sign language interpreters to be incorporated in all television newscasts.
As a result, all television stations are now required to use sign language during newscasts.
The Convention also recommended facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community.