December 10 is International Human Rights Day, which marks the day the United Nations made a resolution on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1949.
This being the 71st commemoration, it’s important to look at how far we have come with regards to upholding our inalienable and indivisible entitlements that accrue to all human beings no matter their color, gender, age, disability, religion, social or any other status. This year’s theme is ‘Equality: Reducing inequality and advancing human rights’.
This theme is timely, especially in a post-Covid-19 society as the pandemic has exposed the pervasive nature of our inequalities across the globe.
The principle of equality and non-discrimination is found in almost all the international human rights conventions, usually in Article 5 of the text of the treaties.
However, many groups of people are yet to fully enjoy being treated on an equal basis with others by the societies within which they live in. This treatment includes participation in politics on an equal basis.
This week, Kenyans witnessed a very interesting scenario whereby a video of Raila Odinga ostensibly not being able to address a crowd due to fatigue.
In the video, he is seen as struggling to wave his hand. Those promoting this video are using it to settle political scores by advancing the narrative that due to this perceived ‘disability’ as a result of old age, he cannot be trusted with leadership.
Old age and disability are synonymous. This thus amounts to body shaming on the basis of disability and is not acceptable.
It has become commonplace for political discourse to be full of such innuendos with the sole aim of advancing the thinking that those who have one form of disability or another are not suitable to lead. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Recently, while addressing Kikuyu radio and TV stations, Raila referred to persons with albinism as Zeruzeru, while talking about my relationship with him.
This is a derogatory term that has been outlawed due the negative connotation that it has acquired to the extent that persons with albinism are seen as having magical powers, a situation that has led to the ritual killing of nearly 700 of them across Africa.
When Raila used this unpalatable word, I took time to educate him on the same so that he, too, can understand the right language to apply without demeaning other fellow human beings.
It is, therefore, inconceivable for members of the public to continue settling political scores using one’s physical appearance as has become the norm in our political contestations, especially on social media.
Article 54 (1) (a) of the Constitution is very clear in that any Kenyan is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect and to be addressed and to be referred to in a manner that is not demeaning.
It’s important to remind Kenyans that in 2002, then opposition candidate Mwai Kibaki was sworn in as President on a wheelchair and went on to become the third and the most successful president of our times.
He was able to revive and grow the economy in an unprecedented manner more than any of his predecessors. The 46th President of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, served as vice president as well as a wheelchair user. Gabriela Michetti was vice president of Argentina until 2019 as a wheelchair user. The 32nd and 26th presidents of the US Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt had disabilities and this didn’t hinder them from serving.
In Kenya, we have had a fair share of successful politicians with disabilities in Parliament such Oki Ooko Ombaka and Josephine Sinyo, who were both blind.
In the current Parliament, we have 15 legislators who positively identify themselves as having one disability or another. They include Tim Wanyonyi of Westlands, who started off as a nominated councilor, Kajiado Woman Rep Janet Teyiaa, who was nominated MP in the 11th Parliament, Makueni Woman Rep Rose Museo, who is on her second term, David Sankok, Gertrude Musuruve, Cyprian Iringo, Yusuf Hassan and yours truly.
Interestingly, out of 13 members who served in the 11th Parliament, 11 of were re-elected. These means Kenyans had confidence in their leadership. Wanyonyi is gunning for Nairobi governor, while gospel legendary Reuben Kigame, who is blind, is going for the presidency,
People can differ on any other political matter, but to zero in on one’s anatomy, physiology or morphology, it is against human rights. This reminds me of Zambian presidential candidates mocking the late President Levi Mwanawasa as a ‘cabbage’ only for one of them Michael Sata not to last in office once elected.
As we celebrate International Human Rights Day, let’s remember that all human beings are created equal and that political leadership, which is the highest calling to public service, has space too for those who may not look or do things like us and who knows they could be the change that we are looking for.
