NAIROBI, Kenya – Visually impaired law students at the University of Nairobi have received a boost in their academic journey after receiving MacBook laptops to enhance digital accessibility in legal education.
The initiative, spearheaded by inABLE, seeks to equip students with essential assistive technology, ensuring they can pursue their studies with greater independence and efficiency.
The handover ceremony took place on Thursday, January 30, at the university’s Law Campus in Parklands.
The laptops were distributed as part of inABLE’s Assistive Technology Training Program, now in its second cohort, which trains visually impaired law students in digital literacy, research tools, and productivity applications crucial for legal studies.
University of Nairobi’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Margaret Jesang Hutchinson, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that inclusivity in education is essential for academic excellence.
She underscored the importance of partnerships in advancing accessibility, reaffirming the university’s commitment to supporting students with disabilities.
“A great leader can only be known by what they leave behind,” Prof. Hutchinson remarked, lauding inABLE’s work and encouraging the student beneficiaries to become advocates for change.
inABLE Board Member Joe Kiarie described the program as an investment in the future of visually impaired students rather than just a donation of laptops.
“This initiative is about more than just technology—it’s about empowerment. We want to ensure that students with disabilities can access the same opportunities as their peers,” he stated.
The Faculty of Law’s Dean, Prof. Winfred Kamau, and Lawrence Mute, Chairperson of the Faculty’s Disability Mainstreaming Committee, also hailed the program’s impact.
They noted that assistive technology is transforming learning for visually impaired students, allowing them to move beyond traditional Braille materials and access digital legal resources seamlessly.
One of the beneficiaries, Samson Kenyatta Moiruruki, described the initiative as a game-changer.
“This is not just about support; it’s a strong statement on inclusivity. We appreciate the university and inABLE for ensuring that students like us can study and conduct research without barriers,” he said.
The assistive training, conducted between May and October 2024 at Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi’s Parklands campus, trained 15 students on MacBook accessibility features, file management, and legal research tools.
inABLE Advocacy Officer and University of Nairobi alumnus Julius Mbura emphasized that the organization will continue mentoring the students and tracking the impact of technology on their education.
“We plan to expand the program to reach more students, ensuring equal access to education for all,” Mbura said.
