By Joshua Otieno | June 4, 2026
NAIROBI, KENYA — Leaders representing persons with disabilities are now demanding greater political representation and equal participation in national leadership ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning that the disability community continues to face exclusion despite constitutional protections and years of advocacy.
During a Persons with Disabilities Breakfast Forum held in Nairobi, stakeholders unveiled a 10-point agenda outlining what they described as urgent priorities that must be addressed to guarantee full inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance, employment, education, and economic empowerment.
At the center of the discussions was a strong call for the appointment of persons with disabilities to top government positions, with leaders noting that Kenya has never appointed a person with disability to a Cabinet position since independence.
Executive Director of the Consortium of Disabled Persons Organizations in Kenya (CDPOK), Joseph Atella, said many persons with disabilities still encounter major obstacles when participating in public affairs and democratic processes.
“Many people living with disabilities continue to experience exclusion through inaccessible systems, communication barriers and negative attitudes in society,” Atella said.
He explained that although Kenya’s Constitution provides protections against discrimination and guarantees equal participation, implementation gaps continue to leave many people behind.
According to Atella, barriers such as inaccessible polling stations, lack of disability-friendly civic education materials, and limited communication support continue affecting the participation of persons with disabilities during elections and public engagements.
He further called on both levels of government to expand access to healthcare, assistive technologies, inclusive education, and economic opportunities.
“Inclusion should not only remain a constitutional promise but become part of everyday reality for millions of Kenyans living with disabilities,” he added.
Leaders at the forum also urged the Government to speed up the implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, saying the law presents an opportunity to strengthen disability rights if fully enforced.
Meanwhile, Nandi County Nominated MCA Hon. Bridgit Songok challenged the Government to increase the number of persons with disabilities appointed to influential public offices.
“We have capable people with disabilities who can serve as Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Ambassadors and in many other senior leadership positions. Representation matters,” Songok stated.
She said the disability community remains significantly underrepresented in key decision-making spaces despite making meaningful contributions to national development.
On employment, Songok pushed for stricter enforcement of the constitutional provision requiring at least five percent of public jobs to be reserved for persons with disabilities.
She also called for increased access to funding and business opportunities for entrepreneurs with disabilities, saying financial exclusion continues limiting economic independence.
The forum additionally highlighted the need for better support systems for families raising children with disabilities, including social protection measures and targeted assistance for caregivers.
Veteran disability rights campaigner and former United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities member, Dr. Samuel Kabue, said Kenya already possesses progressive disability laws but faces challenges in translating policy into action.
“The challenge is not lack of laws, but ensuring those laws work for the people they were created to protect,” Kabue noted.
He also urged political parties to formally recognize disability caucuses and create meaningful opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in party leadership and nomination processes.
The leaders further appealed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to improve accessibility in voter registration, civic education, polling stations, and election materials to ensure persons with disabilities fully participate in the democratic process.
As preparations for the 2027 General Election begin taking shape, disability rights groups say they will intensify engagement with government institutions, political parties, and election stakeholders to push for greater representation and accountability.
“No society can claim to be inclusive if a section of its people continues to be left behind,” disability leaders said during the forum.
