“We want a seat at the Table ”, PWDs Demand cabinet seats in 2027

Persons with disabilities have intensified calls for full inclusion in Kenya’s political, economic and social life ahead of the 2027 General Election, unveiling a comprehensive 10 point agenda aimed at securing meaningful representation and equal participation in governance. Speaking during a Persons with Disabilities Breakfast Forum in Nairobi, Joseph Atella, Executive Director of the Consortium of Disabled Persons Organizations in Kenya (CDPOK), said persons with disabilities remain among the most marginalized groups in civic and political spaces despite years of advocacy and constitutional protections, noting that inaccessible polling stations, limited civic education materials in accessible formats, communication barriers and persistent negative societal attitudes continue to lock out many persons with disabilities from participating fully in democratic processes. Kenya’s 2010 Constitution provides a strong legal foundation for inclusion through Articles 27, 54, 99 and 100, which guarantee equality, non-discrimination, dignity, education, communication and political participation for persons with disabilities.
They are now calling government to fully implement constitutional provisions and existing disability laws, arguing that legal protections must translate into tangible opportunities for millions of Kenyans living with disabilities.