Championing change in the fight for disability inclusion

For a long time, persons with disabilities in Kenya have advocated for empowerment, inclusivity, and humanitarian support to enjoy their human rights and realize their full potential.

These advocacy efforts focus on advancing rights, addressing systemic barriers and creating sustainable initiatives that drive meaningful impact.

Speaking at the 36th anniversary celebration of the United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), CEO Sally Nduta underscored the organisation’s achievements and ongoing challenges.

“This journey has been a time of deep reflection on our role as an organisation and our commitment to empowering persons with disabilities and their representative organisations,” she said. Nduta highlighted that 30 counties have felt UDPK’s impact, with persons with disabilities and their organisations reporting increased capacity to monitor their rights and engage with decision-makers at the county level.

Despite these gains, 36.17 per cent of Kenya’s counties indicate that there remains a pressing need for targeted programs, especially in policy influence, advocacy and inclusive service delivery.

READ: People with disability want inclusion in sexual, reproductive healthcare

Nduta acknowledged this gap, stating, “We have 17 counties telling us, ‘Yes, you say you have a national presence, but we need you to do more.’ We are determined to reach them, rallying persons with disabilities to speak with one voice, particularly in advocacy and engagement with county governments.

To foster a non-disabling society, awareness-raising initiatives aimed at reducing disability-related stigma and sensitising government officials on disability inclusion in policymaking are crucial.

So far, 200 government officers have been trained on disability inclusion in public participation, while 390 managers have received training on disability inclusion in workplaces and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

However, specific groups, such as individuals with neurodiverse and intellectual disabilities, remain underrepresented, necessitating targeted advocacy.

“Persons who are often underrepresented in the disability movement; those with intellectual disabilities, psychosocial disabilities, women and girls with disabilities and persons with multiple disabilities need to be heard and included. Their voices matter in shaping the disability agenda,” Nduta emphasised.

Board Chairperson Eric Ngondi reinforced UDPK’s commitment to inclusion and non-discrimination, stating: “Our journey has been one of professionalism, teamwork, integrity and accountability. We have set ourselves strategic priorities, including strengthening support for our members, advocating for policy changes, and influencing legal frameworks to advance disability rights.”

The newly launched strategic plan is anchored on four key pillars: membership support and engagement, policy advocacy and legal influence, data monitoring and evaluation, and organisational development.

Under membership support, UDPK seeks to strengthen linkages with organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in counties where they currently do not exist.

The plan also emphasises capacity-building initiatives to enhance governance and advocacy efforts within OPDs. “We aim to leave no one behind by ensuring targeted campaigns for women, youth and underrepresented disability groups while fostering collaboration and shared learning among our members,” Nduta explained.

Policy advocacy remains a core focus, with organisations working to influence disability-inclusive policies at both national and county levels. This includes ensuring that climate action, healthcare, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian responses integrate considerations for persons with disabilities.

“We have been engaging employers, including major corporations like Safaricom, East African Breweries and Coca-Cola, to promote inclusive workplaces. Persons with disabilities are not just job seekers; they are also consumers. Businesses that exclude them are missing out on a significant market segment,” Nduta noted. She further stressed the importance of skills training for employability, citing partnerships with institutions such as the National Industrial Training Authority to equip young persons with disabilities with IT skills.

ALSO READ: Calls for inclusion and equality top disability summit

In addition, UDPK is actively addressing gender-based violence (GBV) against persons with disabilities.

“We cannot ignore the reality that persons with disabilities can be both victims and perpetrators of GBV. Our approach must be holistic; working with law enforcement, strengthening survivor support systems and expanding safe spaces. We need inclusive policies that recognise the unique vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities in gender-based violence cases,” Nduta remarked.

Anne-Sophie Fabricius, Senior Advisor for International Development Cooperation at Disabled People of Denmark (DPOD), commended UDPK’s strategic direction. “This process has been crucial in ensuring that OPDs find a way to move forward together. Unity within the disability movement, coupled with strong and committed partnerships, is essential for success,” she said.

Looking ahead to 2029, OPDs are envisioned to be revitalised and county networks across all 47 counties, stronger policy influence to embed disability inclusion in governance and increased socio-economic participation of persons with disabilities. “We want to ensure that by 2029, we have significantly reduced disability-related stigma and built an organisation that is financially sustainable and resilient,” Nduta said.