‘Light for the World Kenya’ in partnership with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) marked the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), with a call for transformative solutions for inclusive development through the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world.
The IDPD, set to be commemorated today globally, is an annual global event that aims at promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society.
Labour & Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore, appreciated the stakeholders who turned up to support the event and urged them to work together in supporting People with Disabilities.
“Let us join the Governor of Narok and the people of Narok County to embrace the gains made in advancing rights of people with disabilities, create awareness, and mobilise both for advancement for the wellbeing for people living with disabilities,” said Bore in a speech read on her behalf by Dickson Oruko.
She disclosed that the government has a five percent reservation for People with Disabilities for employment in the public sector adding that it promotes inclusion of PWDs in societal existence provided for in the Constitution of Kenya.
Bore called for a multisector approach to ensure disability inclusion in all aspects of development ranging from rights of protection and inclusive development.
She further asked the private sector to act together and find a lasting solution for PWDs to make the world a more accessible and equitable place.
At the same time, Steve Njenga, Director of ‘Light for the World-Kenya’ said that they invited the private sector to discuss PWDs acknowledging that KEPSA had signed a commitment to be inclusive.
He added that there is a need to involve PWDs in product designs and exploration.
“There is a need for producers and manufactures to contextualize the thinking of how PWDs are involved in product development and design; they become the next consumer of their products and services only with their involvement,” said Njenga.
Concurrently, the Director for Gender and Small and Medium Enterprises and a Board member at KEPSA, Eva Muraya, appealed to companies to incorporate the inclusion of PWDs.
By Emmanuel Kipkoech and Hellen Mwangi
