Nakuru: Nakuru County has reserved five per cent of its employment opportunities for people living with disabilities. While noting that people living with disabilities (PWDs) have the potential and value to boost organisations, County Public Service Chairman Charles Mwai emphasized that these individuals must not face discrimination. He highlighted the necessity of affirmative action in their favour to minimise the challenges they encounter and promote normal living.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mr. Mwai noted that the protection of persons with disabilities against discrimination is embedded in Section 5 of the Employment Act 2007. He further referenced the Persons with Disabilities Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against persons with disabilities in job advertisements, recruitment, terms of employment, retrenchment, or any other employment-related matters. Speaking during the 20th anniversary celebration of the National Council for Persons with Disability at the Regional Commissioner’
s Plenary Hall in Nakuru, the Chairman mentioned that 400 out of the 5,600 workforce in the county were persons living with disabilities.
Mr. Mwai encouraged PWDs to apply for jobs, stating that the recruitment process has been automated to ensure fairness for marginalised groups. The board is also working on a policy to promote equity and inclusivity in hiring, retention, and promotion. He underscored the provisions of Sections 12 and 15 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, particularly Section 15(1), which provides guidance on advertisement wording to avoid excluding persons with disabilities.
An official from the County Directorate of Supply Chain, Franklin Cheruiyot, stated that they were encouraging women, youth, and persons with disabilities to apply for contracts. This initiative aims to leverage regulations requiring government agencies to allocate 30 per cent of all contracts to businesses owned and operated by these groups. The County Government has conducted training for people with hearing impa
irments to equip them with the skills needed for tender processes using the IFMIS e-procurement platform.
Mr. Cheruiyot emphasized that job opportunities for people with disabilities should not be based on their status or seen as tokenism, but rather on the value they bring to firms. Kenya has made significant advancements with the Disability Act, 2012, providing opportunities like contracts for the disabled and tax rebates for employers hiring them. However, challenges such as government enforcement shortfalls and lack of awareness among PWDs persist.
National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) Regional Coordinator Isaac Rogito advocated for the private sector to re-evaluate corporate social responsibility and recognize PWDs as contributors to company growth. He called for collaboration with the private sector to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities. Mr. Rogito praised the government for its commitment to disability inclusion and the enhancement and accessibility of PWDs in all societal
facets.
In promoting the inclusion of PWDs, he noted that Kenya has established a robust legal framework, including Article 54 of the Bill of Rights. ‘The Persons with Disabilities Act No. 14 of 2003 was also enacted to secure the rights of PWDs as equal citizens,’ he added. He also mentioned the development of a new digital registration system for persons with disabilities through NCPD, which will provide crucial socio-economic data on PWDs for policy development and resource allocation.
