Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have asked the government to consider providing for them Special Vehicles or design Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) they can comfortably use whenever they want to commute.
Speaking during a public Participation forum on the Proposed Persons with Disabilities National Policy 2024, Josphat Musagama, a resident of Vihiga County said most Vehicles on the road are not designed to support Persons with Disabilities.
He noted that the unfavorable designs in the vehicles expose them to risks of injury particularly those who use crutches and wheelchairs.
He disclosed that during an earlier meeting he attended and gave inputs at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in 2011, some transport companies present promised to design their vehicles to consider the needs of persons with disabilities.
He however regretted that despite the promises their concerns as PWDs have not been implemented with only few institutions like the Vihiga County Assembly meeting the standards.
A report by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis(KIPPRA) on ‘Enhancing Accessibility in Transport Infrastructure by PWDs’ revealed that lack of a Universal accessibility of transport infrastructure both in rural and urban environments limits the participation of PWDs in the society.
“PWDs have to use taxi cars as opposed to available public transport, or even pay relatively more than the other public transport users. The cost is even worse in rural areas where PWDs have limited travel options, implying that PWDs in rural areas are less mobile,” states the report by KIPPRA published on July 28, 2020.
The report states that in universal designs, the Transport system should include ease in boarding and disembarking the vehicles, and securing passengers and their equipment.
Similarly, a study conducted by the Flone Initiative in 2021, titled ‘The Need for Inclusive Transport in Kenya’ shows that about 77% of People with disabilities in the country use Public Transport Vehicles (PSVs).
The Policy brief indicated that while using the Public Service Vehicles, PWDs were worried about boarding, reaching the vehicle, cost of transport, switching from one vehicle to another, alighting from a matatu and the condition of sidewalks.
While giving his proposal during the public participation held in Kakamega County, Musagama who is visually impaired asked the government to fully implement the Proposed Persons with Disabilities National Policy 2024 which contains recommendations on improving transport services for PWDs.
By Moses Wekesa
