NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s justice sector has been urged to ensure the rapid adoption of digital technology and artificial intelligence does not create new barriers for persons with disabilities seeking access to government and justice services.
Supreme Court Judge and Chairperson of the Integrated Court Management Systems and Communication Committee (ICMS), Justice Isaac Lenaola, said accessibility must be treated as an institutional responsibility as government agencies accelerate the transition to digital services.
Lenaola spoke during an engagement with justice-sector stakeholders on the Digital, ICT and AI Accessibility Roadmap for Government Services in Kenya, where he called on institutions to appoint accessibility champions or focal persons to drive inclusion within their organisations.
He cautioned institutions against treating accessibility as the sole responsibility of specialised bodies such as the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
“With the increased use of technology and especially AI, all tools must be inclusive. Let’s make a commitment that we will not digitise exclusion; we will digitise inclusion,” Lenaola said.
Lenaola Calls for Institutional Accessibility Champions
The judge said government institutions must embed accessibility within their own structures rather than relying on external agencies to identify and address barriers.
He noted that progress had already been made through the development of digital and ICT accessibility policy approaches, adoption of an accessibility maturity model and establishment of institutional structures.
He also pointed to ongoing efforts around artificial intelligence governance and policy as an opportunity to ensure accessibility is incorporated into emerging technologies.
The call comes as public institutions increasingly shift services online, raising concerns that people who rely on assistive technologies could be left behind if digital platforms are not designed with accessibility from the outset.
Justice Laibuta Warns Against Inaccessible Digital Justice
Justice Kibaya Laibuta, speaking from his lived experience, said assistive technology by itself cannot guarantee meaningful access if the underlying digital systems remain inaccessible.
He cited screen-reader-incompatible icons, visually dependent interfaces, scanned documents and incompatible systems as some of the barriers that can prevent persons with disabilities from accessing digital services.
“From screen-reader-incompatible icons and visually dependent interfaces to scanned documents and incompatible systems, digital justice must be designed with accessibility from the beginning, not added as an afterthought,” Laibuta said.
He called for persons with disabilities to be directly involved in the design and development of digital services.
Laibuta also urged institutions to empower accessibility champions and make accessibility a mandatory consideration in procurement, ICT development and digital innovation.
Justice Sector Pushes Inclusive AI and ICT
Court of Appeal Judge Daniel Musinga urged justice-sector institutions to adopt disability inclusion through compliance by design, inclusive artificial intelligence and ICT systems, and stronger collaboration between institutions.
The multi-stakeholder initiative seeks to make government services more accessible to persons with disabilities while moving digital inclusion efforts from grassroots interventions towards systemic institutional reform.
The discussions come as artificial intelligence and digital technologies become increasingly integrated into public-sector service delivery, making accessibility an important consideration in the design, procurement and deployment of new systems.
The initiative seeks to ensure that technological advancement improves access to public services rather than creating another layer of exclusion for people with disabilities.
Justices Jacob Gakeri, Byram Ongaya and William Musyoka attended the forum alongside judicial officers, judicial staff and officials from other justice-sector institutions.
