By Collins Wanzallah
Persons with disabilities have asked President William Ruto to appoint one disabled female among them as Cabinet Secretary. Speaking at the University of Nairobi yesterday during celebrations to mark Youth Day, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), Sally Nduta, said that the position of cabinet secretary for gender should be given to a disabled woman.
She added that the constitution offers a powerful framework for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance and decision-making. “The constitution addresses inclusivity by providing for the appointment of persons with disabilities in public office as well as their representation in parliament and county assemblies, said Nduta.
She said that these arrangements are anchored in Article 54(2) of the constitution, which obligates the state to ensure that at least five per cent of elective and appointive positions are held by disabled people. Nduta added that at least 10 per cent of Kenyans have disabilities and that many of them remain highly marginalised and face numerous barriers to service provision that affect their participation in society just like other people.
She said that to ensure the needs of persons with disabilities are addressed and to construct an inclusive culture where disability inclusion becomes a norm, sufficient representation must be from persons with disabilities across the governance structure. According to her, the representation of governance by disabled persons should be from the cabinet-level, principal secretaries, and other governance positions in the country.
“A cabinet secretary with disabilities in the highest spaces of decision-making in the country like a cabinet secretary will be able to advise on matters of inclusion and accessibility to people living with disabilities, said the CEO. She named some of the women living with disabilities who could be appointed to the cabinet to fill the vacant post of gender cabinet secretary as former principal secretary Josephat Mukobe, Regina Chumba, Jemima Kutata (UDA disability league coordinator), Penny Kaburu, Alice Munala, Rahab Siranga, Mildred Imino, and Faith Njahira Wangare.
“Indeed, a nation is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members. Governance and decision-making are incomplete without the face of persons with disabilities, remarked Nduta.
