Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have intensified calls for greater inclusion in Kenya's leadership structures ahead of the 2027 General Election.
They have demanded the appointment of a cabinet secretary from the disability community and warned that decades of exclusion continue to undermine their constitutional rights.
The demand emerged during a Persons with Disabilities Breakfast Forum in Nairobi, where disability rights leaders unveiled a 10-point agenda aimed at securing meaningful representation, economic empowerment and equal participation in governance.
Speaking at the forum, Consortium of Disabled Persons Organizations in Kenya (CDPOK) executive director Joseph Atella said persons with disabilities remain among the most marginalised groups in political and civic spaces despite constitutional guarantees protecting their rights.
"Kenya has made significant progress in developing laws and policies that promote inclusion, but many persons with disabilities still face barriers that prevent them from fully participating in public life," Atella said.
He pointed to inaccessible polling stations, limited civic education materials in accessible formats, communication barriers and persistent negative attitudes as some of the obstacles that continue to lock out persons with disabilities from democratic processes.
Atella said the Constitution provides a strong legal foundation for inclusion through provisions that guarantee equality, non-discrimination, dignity, education, communication and political participation.
However, he argued that implementation remains weak, leaving many persons with disabilities unable to enjoy the rights guaranteed under the law.
The disability rights advocate also called for increased investment in economic empowerment programmes, saying persons with disabilities should be actively involved in entrepreneurship, employment, trade and national development initiatives.
The forum's demand came from disability leaders who called for the appointment of more persons with disabilities to senior government positions, including Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, ambassadors and heads of public institutions.
Nandi nominated MCA for Persons with Disabilities Bridgit Songok said the disability community has remained largely absent from top decision-making positions since Kenya attained independence.
"We have never had a person with a disability serving as a Cabinet Secretary despite the immense contributions persons with disabilities make to national development," Songok said.
She argued that true inclusion can only be achieved when persons with disabilities are represented at the highest levels of government, where critical policy decisions are made.
Songok further called for the enforcement of the constitutional requirement reserving at least five per cent of opportunities in public institutions for persons with disabilities. She described employment as a key pillar of economic independence and dignity.
The MCA also urged the government to improve disability data collection to support evidence-based planning and budgeting, while expanding access to affirmative action funds and targeted business support programmes for entrepreneurs with disabilities.
In addition, she called for enhanced support for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities through tax incentives and social protection measures.
As part of the 10-point agenda, disability leaders proposed a structured framework to guarantee representation at both national and county levels, including dedicated positions in Parliament, county assemblies and the Executive.
At the county level, they want every county government to appoint at least one County Executive Committee Member and a dedicated director to coordinate disability programmes and services.
The leaders also called for increased funding for disability sports, noting that Kenyan athletes with disabilities continue to excel internationally despite facing challenges related to training facilities, equipment and competition support.
Veteran disability rights advocate Samuel Kabue said Kenya possesses one of the strongest legal frameworks on disability rights in Africa, but continues to struggle with implementation.
Kabue observed that disability advocacy in Kenya has evolved from a charity-based approach to a rights-based movement that recognises persons with disabilities as equal citizens entitled to full participation in society.
"This is no longer about sympathy. It is about rights, representation and equal opportunities," he said.
Kabue also called for the reinstatement of the Disability Inclusion Coordinating Committee within the electoral framework to strengthen collaboration between disability stakeholders and electoral agencies ahead of the 2027 elections.
He expressed concern over the continued underrepresentation of persons with disabilities in elective and nominated positions, noting that more than 20 counties failed to nominate disability representatives in previous election cycles.
The leaders further challenged political parties to formally recognize disability caucuses within their structures and ensure disability concerns are reflected in party policies, leadership positions and nomination processes.
They announced plans to intensify engagement with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and political parties as preparations for the 2027 General Election gather momentum.
The leaders maintained that meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in leadership, governance and development is not a favour but a constitutional obligation that Kenya must fulfil.
