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 noted that these people must not be discriminated against and, where necessary, affirmative action must be applied in their favour in order to minimise challenges they face and also to promote normal living.
Mr. Mwai noted that protection of persons with disabilities against discrimination is also contained in Section 5 of the Employment Act 2007.
He further noted that the Persons with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from discriminating against persons with disabilities in job advertisements, recruitment, terms of employment, retrenchment, or in any other matter related to employment.
Speaking during activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the National Council for Persons with Disability held at the Regional Commissioner’s Plenary Hall in Nakuru, the Chairman indicated that 400 out of the 5,600-county workforce were persons living with disability.
“We are encouraging PWDs to apply for jobs. We have automated the recruitment process to enhance fairness for marginalised groups such as PWDs. As a board, we are also working on a policy to promote equity and inclusivity in hiring, retention, and promotion of PWDS,” he added.
He went on, “As a board, we are alive to the provisions of Sections 12 and 15 of the Persons with Disabilities Act. With regard to discrimination, Section 15(1) provides useful pointers with regard to positions by an employer, and the wording of vacancy advertisements must not appear to exclude persons with disabilities.”
Mr. Mwai encouraged persons with disabilities to enhance their academic qualifications and competencies even as the county gives them more opportunities.
An official from the County Directorate of Supply Chain, Franklin Cheruiyot, said they were encouraging women, youth, and persons with disabilities to apply for contracts.
This is expected to help them take advantage of regulations requiring government agencies to set aside 30 per cent of all contracts for businesses owned and run by youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
He said the County Government had conducted training for people with hearing impairments to equip them with adequate skills to undertake tender processes using the IFMIS e-procurement platform.
“Today, people with disabilities should not be given job opportunities based on their status and as tokenism but looking at the value they will bring to a firm,” noted Mr. Cheruiyot.
Kenya is one of the countries that has made gains with the Disability Act, 2012, which has provided opportunities like contracts for the disabled and tax rebates to employers that hire the disabled.
However, the failure of enforcement by the government and lack of awareness of these benefits by PWDs are also challenges.
National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) Regional Coordinator Isaac Rogito said there is a need for the private sector to re-engineer the concept of corporate social responsibility and look at PWDs as people who can contribute to companies’ growth.
He called for collaboration with the private sector to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities.
Mr. Rogito hailed the government for its commitment to disability inclusion and enhancement and accessibility of persons with disabilities in all spheres of societal existence.
In promoting the inclusion of PWDs, he said, 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.
The coordinator also said the country is implementing a commitment to developing a new digital registration system for persons with disabilities through NCPD that will provide adequate socio-economic data on PWDs, which is critical in policy development and allocation of resources.
By Jane Ngugi
