The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Disability Rights is developing guidelines to ensure government institutions redesign their communication channels, making public service recruitment notices, state tenders, and announcements on essential services accessible to people with disabilities. Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Disability Rights Isaac Mwaura stated that inaccessible communication excludes persons with disabilities from important government processes, limiting their ability to participate in public life and access opportunities available to other citizens.
Mwaura raised the concerns during a roadmap validation forum on digital and information and communications technology (ICT) accessibility at the Kenya School of Government on October 30. He observed that information is a fundamental resource for public participation and should be accessible to everyone. The proposed guidelines will provide for sign-language interpretation, captioning, accessible digital documents, voice narration, and simplified information formats to improve access for people with hearing, visual, intellectual, and other disabilities.
The measures are intended to address the problem of inaccessible communication, which has been a major challenge for persons with disabilities in Kenya. Government institutions should make information available in formats that accommodate different disabilities rather than expect affected individuals to find alternative ways of obtaining it. This initiative is also linked to President William Ruto's directive to reinstate disability mainstreaming as a core performance indicator across ministries, departments, and agencies.
During the same forum, Gender, Culture and Children Services Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo called on government institutions to incorporate accessibility into their planning, budgeting, procurement, communication, and management of digital systems. She cited the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, as a legal foundation for advancing disability rights and strengthening institutional accountability. Cheptumo emphasized the need for public institutions to prioritize disability inclusion in their operations.
National Council for Persons with Disabilities Chief Executive Officer Dr. Munene Michael also called on public institutions to appoint accessibility focal persons at director level, conduct comprehensive audits, and develop funded plans to address identified gaps. He urged public institutions to make disability inclusion part of their operations rather than limit it to policy commitments. This will ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to government services and opportunities.
The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Disability Rights is working to ensure that government institutions implement the new guidelines, which will promote disability inclusion and accessibility in Kenya. The guidelines will help to address the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing public information and services. This initiative is a significant step towards promoting equal opportunities for all citizens in Kenya.
Key stakeholders are urging government institutions to prioritize disability inclusion and accessibility in their operations. The new guidelines will help to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to government services and opportunities.
Key points
- Government institutions in Kenya are set to implement new guidelines to make public information accessible to persons with disabilities.
- The guidelines will provide for sign-language interpretation, captioning, accessible digital documents, voice narration, and simplified information formats.
- The initiative is linked to President William Ruto's directive to reinstate disability mainstreaming as a core performance indicator across ministries, departments, and agencies.
