Persons with disabilities in Kenya are contributing to the development of more inclusive policies and systems, ensuring that lived experience informs national efforts to promote decent work and social inclusion.
Benter Bella Mboya is among those helping drive this change. Based in Kisumu County, she brings her experience as a woman with a physical disability to national discussions on disability inclusion.
Growing up, Benter was the only student with a disability in her year. She participated fully in school life, although barriers remained. She recalls those years as "not very hard", reflecting her determination to engage in daily activities alongside her peers.
After completing school, she enrolled in college as a day scholar, commuting daily by public transport. During her attachment at Maseno University, long distances across campus presented additional challenges.
Her transition into the labour market highlighted further barriers. For several years, she submitted job applications without receiving responses. During this period, she started a small business to support herself while continuing her search. She later secured employment in Nakuru County.
In 2020, she was selected as a Village Administrator in Kisumu County from a pool of more than 1,600 applicants, including a limited number of women and persons with disabilities.
However, structural barriers persisted. When submitting her onboarding documents, she had to navigate multiple inaccessible floors in a public building. The experience reflects broader challenges many persons with disabilities face in accessing employment.
"People often ask why we need inclusive spaces," she says. "My answer is simple: so, we can do our jobs with dignity."
Today, Benter is an active member of the Kenyan Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities, contributing to efforts that promote the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Her experience also informs the work of the International Labour Organization in Kenya. With support from the Global Disability Fund, the International Labour Organization is working with partners to strengthen disability-inclusive policies, systems and services.
Through a United Nations joint programme implemented by the International Labour Organization, UNICEF and UNFPA, persons with disabilities are actively involved in shaping national initiatives. The programme is coordinated with the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and engages key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, organizations of persons with disabilities, the Federation of Kenya Employers and the Central Organization of Trade Unions.
These efforts have contributed to the development of practical tools, including:
- Guidelines on the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities
- A training module on disability rights for state and non-state actors
- Guidance to support the implementation of the 5 percent employment quota
- A national strategy to address discrimination and stigma
These initiatives respond to persistent barriers, including inaccessible infrastructure, limited inclusive transport and challenges in accessing employment opportunities.
Benter emphasizes the importance of including persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.
"Employ persons with disabilities. Include us in decision-making. We know what works because we live it," she says.
As Kenya advances its disability-inclusive development agenda, the participation of persons with disabilities remains essential to ensuring that policies and programmes respond to real needs.
