Saturday, March 29, 2008

Kenyans with disabilities hope for place on coalition government's agenda

Although they failed to gain a seat in Kenya's Parliament, people with disabilities there hope that the coalition government will try to address the societal issues that affect them, according to Afriquenligne reported March 28.

"As Kenyans with disabilities, we have for far too long been forced to remain on the periphery of this country's policy and legislation making processes. Even where policy or legislation has recognised our needs, its implementation has been patchy and half-hearted," the community said in the statement, released under the aegis of a government agency – the Kenya National Commission of Human rights (KNCHR).

Kenyans with disabilities asked that the three main political parties "stay true to their election promises and act decisively to enable the rights and development needs of over three million disabled Kenyans."