Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), has pledged to prioritize the employment rights of persons with disabilities if elected as the Lang'ata Member of Parliament in 2027. Atellah made this commitment during the Disability Inclusive Employment Summit 2026, organized by Riziki Source. He emphasized that decent work is a fundamental right, not a privilege, and called for the enforcement of constitutional provisions protecting persons with disabilities.
Atellah argued that employers should not treat the employment of persons with disabilities as an act of charity but as a right that workers must enjoy. He challenged public and private sector employers to provide persons with disabilities with equal employment opportunities and fair working conditions. Despite constitutional and statutory provisions protecting persons with disabilities, Atellah expressed concern that their implementation remained inadequate, particularly in employment.
Article 54 of the Constitution provides for the progressive implementation of the principle that at least five per cent of members of the public in elective and appointive bodies should be persons with disabilities. Atellah called for greater accountability among employers and government institutions to ensure disability inclusion commitments translate into employment opportunities. He cited the need for a united approach in demanding employment opportunities and workplace dignity for persons with disabilities.
Drawing from his experience negotiating with the government over doctors' welfare, Atellah argued that political representation was necessary to secure lasting policy changes. He pointed to trade unions' use of strikes, demonstrations and sit-ins to push for workers' rights, urging persons with disabilities and advocacy groups to adopt a similar approach. Atellah maintained that persons with disabilities needed direct representation in decision-making platforms to ensure their concerns received attention.
Atellah, who described himself as a father of a person with a disability, pledged to include disability rights and workers' welfare in his parliamentary agenda. He proposed an agenda that would focus on equity, dignity, legislation and budgetary allocations to ensure persons with disabilities access employment without seeking special favours. Atellah's agenda aims to address the existing gaps in the implementation of disability rights.
The Disability Inclusive Employment Summit 2026, where Atellah made his pledge, brought together stakeholders to discuss the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing employment opportunities. Atellah's commitment to disability rights and employment has been welcomed by advocacy groups and individuals with disabilities. His election as Lang'ata MP could potentially influence policy changes in favour of persons with disabilities.
Atellah's push for laws guaranteeing employment rights for persons with disabilities is part of a broader effort to promote inclusivity and equity in the workplace. If elected, he will join a growing number of leaders advocating for disability rights and employment opportunities. Atellah's experience as a trade union leader and his personal connection to disability issues make him a strong advocate for this cause.
Key points
- Davji Atellah pledges to push for laws guaranteeing employment rights for persons with disabilities if elected Lang'ata MP in 2027.
