The public sector in Kenya has employed only 1.4 percent of persons with disabilities, far below the legal requirement of 5 percent, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Florence Bore said Wednesday.
Bore appeared before the Senate to answer questions from senators about the level of compliance with Section 13 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, No. 14 of 2003, which mandates the reservation of 5 percent of all casual, emergency and contractual positions for persons with disabilities.
The 1.4 percent figure covers constitutional commissions and independent offices, ministries and state departments, public universities, statutory commissions and authorities, state corporations and SAGAs and TVETs, excluding persons with disabilities working in county governments, Bore said.
Read more: Kenya Airways donates jet to Mang’u High to advance aviation education
She was responding to a question by Senator George Mbugua, who had sought a report from the ministry on all persons with disabilities employed in the public sector.
Bore told the senators that the provision is weak on enforcement of the 5 percent requirement, but her ministry has developed the Persons with Disabilities Bill 2023, which is currently before the National Assembly, to address the shortcomings.
The bill proposes the appointment of an inspector who will ensure enforcement of the provisions of the act in totality, Bore said. The bill also provides for the establishment of disability mainstreaming units, which will carry out regular inspections to ensure implementation and compliance with provisions of the act.
Bore said her ministry has already incorporated the disability mainstreaming performance indicator in the public performance management framework, which will help track and report employment of persons with disabilities.
Read more: M-PESA users can now send up to KES 250,000 per transaction
Through the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, the government has developed a career portal to support persons with disabilities to access information on employment opportunities and connect with potential employers, Bore said.
“The government is finalizing on the development of the national policy for persons with disabilities to set out obligations by all employers in the public and private sectors in regard to employment of persons with disabilities,” Bore said.
Bore also said the government has been carrying out awareness through media and will continue to do so to educate the public on disability issues.
