NAIROBI, Kenya — Leaders representing persons with disabilities (PWDs) have accused the government of sidelining an estimated 2.2 million Kenyans from critical national processes, including policy formulation, leadership appointments, and high-level state engagements.
In a strongly worded letter to President William Ruto, Northern Kenya PWDs chairman Hafid Maalim Ibrahim said the administration has failed to translate its inclusivity pledges into meaningful participation for persons with disabilities.
“I come to you not as an enemy but as a mirror,” Hafid wrote, accusing the government of consistently overlooking PWDs in national discourse. “Every time you list the vulnerable, your mouth forms every word except three: Persons. With. Disabilities.”
He argued that while PWDs are often invited to public events, their involvement is largely symbolic, with little influence on decision-making processes.
“We are decoration, not participants,” he said. “We are invited to watch, to sing, to be a photo op—but never to sit at the table where budgets are divided.”
Hafid also questioned the absence of structured engagement between disability leaders and the Presidency, noting that other groups—including farmers, religious leaders, and youth influencers—have been hosted for dialogue at State House, while PWD representatives remain excluded.
The concerns extend to political representation, with Hafid criticising parties such as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) for failing to nominate persons with disabilities to parliamentary positions, particularly in Northern Kenya.
“In the vast counties of the north, no political party has ever looked at a PWD and said, ‘You will be our MP nominee,’” he said, describing the omission as systemic rather than incidental.
From a legal standpoint, the concerns raise questions about compliance with the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which guarantees equality, non-discrimination, and the inclusion of marginalised groups in governance. Article 54 specifically provides for the rights of persons with disabilities, including reasonable access to opportunities and representation.
Policy analysts say the allegations highlight a gap between constitutional guarantees and practical implementation, particularly in ensuring that marginalised groups are not only visible but actively involved in shaping public policy.
Hafid emphasised that the issue may not stem from deliberate discrimination but rather a persistent oversight with far-reaching implications.
“You do not hate us. You simply forget us. And forgetting a whole people while quoting ‘leave no one behind’ is the cruellest form of leadership,” he said.
He called for corrective measures, including formal recognition of PWDs in national addresses, structured dialogue with their leaders at State House, and deliberate inclusion in future public appointments.
