NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s tech accessibility champion inABLE has earned global recognition after being named to the inaugural Forbes Accessibility 100 list, placing it among the world’s leading organizations advancing digital inclusion for persons with disabilities.
The nonprofit, based in Nairobi, is one of only a handful of African entities featured on the prestigious list, which highlights changemakers integrating accessibility into technology, design, and policy.
The list was compiled following nine months of research and over 400 expert interviews.
“This is a powerful validation of our mission,” said Irene Mbari-Kirika, Founder and Executive Director of inABLE. “We’re working to ensure that persons with disabilities are not just digital consumers, but creators, leaders, and full participants in the digital economy.”
Driving Digital Inclusion from Kenya to the World
Since its founding in 2009, inABLE has established Africa’s first assistive technology labs in special needs schools and emerged as a continental leader in inclusive education and accessibility policy.
Its annual Inclusive Africa Conference now serves as a key platform for shaping digital accessibility solutions across the region.
inABLE’s work is supported by a broad network of global partners, including Google, Microsoft, Meta, Salesforce, Uber, and the Mastercard Foundation, which have helped scale its impact across education, tech innovation, and public policy.
“This recognition belongs to our entire community—our partners, youth innovators, and advocates,” Mbari-Kirika added. “We’re proud to be part of a global movement that’s rethinking access and embedding inclusion into digital systems from the start.”
Accessibility as a Design Imperative
The Forbes Accessibility 100 celebrates organizations tackling accessibility not as a checkbox, but as a foundation for innovation.
inABLE was honored for its contributions to inclusive design, assistive technologies, and equitable digital ecosystems.
According to Forbes, the list recognizes groups leveraging tools such as AI-powered communication apps, sign language avatars, and universal design principles to remove barriers for millions worldwide.
