Deaf people and other partners take part in a street procession in Bungoma town to mark the 2026 International Deaf Awareness Week/HANDOUT
Deaf leaders have called for concerted efforts by the government, communities and other stakeholders to remove communication barriers that continue to prevent persons with hearing disabilities from fully accessing essential services and exercising their rights.
Speaking at KMTC grounds in Bungoma during the 2026 International Deaf Awareness Week, themed “Declaring Deaf People's human rights,” Abel Ouma, Chairman of the Kakamega Association of the Deaf, said recognition of the rights of deaf people must go beyond policies and legislation to meaningful action.
Further, Ouma said accessible communication should be treated as a fundamental human right, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, justice and public administration.
He urged government institutions and other service providers to ensure that deaf people can access information and services through Kenyan Sign Language without discrimination.
The National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) reports that a key finding reveals that only 4% of public institutions meet the mandated 5% reservation of employment for persons with disabilities.
Deaf people and other partners take part in a street procession in Bungoma town to mark the 2026 International Deaf Awareness Week/HANDOUT
“The rights, voices and aspirations of deaf people matter and we must remain committed to breaking down communication barriers,” Ouma said.
He said the lack of adequate sign language interpretation in public institutions continues to create difficulties for deaf people seeking essential services, despite existing legal provisions promoting accessibility and inclusion.
Ouma called for increased training of public officers in Kenyan Sign Language, saying doctors, nurses, police officers, teachers, judicial officers and other frontline workers should have the capacity to communicate with deaf people.
He also urged counties to strengthen disability-inclusive planning and budgeting to ensure that programmes and services reach persons with disabilities at the grassroots.
The call comes amid growing advocacy for the implementation of provisions under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, which strengthens the legal framework for accessibility, communication and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Kenyan Sign Language is particularly important to the deaf community because it serves not only as a means of communication but also as an expression of identity, culture and belonging.
Ouma said barriers to communication can have serious consequences, especially when deaf people seek healthcare, report cases to police, participate in public forums or appear before courts.
He urged parents and communities to embrace Kenyan Sign Language and create environments where deaf children can learn, communicate and participate fully in society.
“Breaking communication barriers should not be viewed as charity. It is about respecting the dignity, equality and independence of deaf people,” he said.
Ouma further challenged development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector to support programmes that promote sign language training, accessible information and economic empowerment of deaf people.
He said meaningful inclusion would only be achieved when deaf people are not merely considered beneficiaries of programmes but are actively involved in decisions affecting their lives.
