Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) living in Mombasa have petitioned the National Assembly to ensure all public buildings in the county are accessible to PWDs.
The group is complaining of being unable to access several buildings that house government offices due to infrastructural challenges.
Led by Coast Civil Society Organizations including Kituo Cha Sheria, PWD’s thematic group, Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI), Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya) Fida Kenya, YWCA and HAKI YETU, the group on Wednesday presented the petition to Mombasa County Women representative ZamZam Mohammed at her offices.
Tunaweza Women with Disabilities Executive Director Charity Chahasi said despite several protests, the buildings still remain inaccessible to PWD’s.
However, Chahasi says after their protest, a rump was installed only at the entrance of the County Assembly building but the rest of the building remains inaccessible to them.
Speaking while handing over the petition, Coast Civil Society Network for Human Rights Chairperson Zedekiah Adika highlighted Bima Towers Building, Betting and Control Building, Mombasa DCC Offices at Treasury Building, Uhuru na Kazi Building and the County Assembly building as some are inaccessible to PWDs.
He said most buildings in Mombasa are not friendly for the physically challenged.
“The petitioners pray that the National Assembly Do hereby make an inquiry into the status of accessibility of all buildings in Mombasa County, in line with articles 27, 37, 54 and 119 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.” Reads part of the petition.
“Do further make recommendations to the housing department, to ensure that all public buildings in Mombasa are easily accessible to persons living with Disabilities, in line with Article 54 of the Constitution 2012.” It continues to read.
This is not the first time the group is complaining of the same.
Also read: PWDs petition Mombasa gov’t to ensure all public offices are accessible
On Dec 2nd, 2022, the group held processions from Bima Towers Building along Digo Road to the Governor’s where office in protest of being unable to access several buildings that house government offices due to infrastructural challenges.
Mombasa County women rep ZamZam Mohammad who received the petition has vowed to lobby for rights of PWD’s in Mombasa to be respected.
Zamzam Promised to ensure that they get timely and unbiased services.
According to the 2019 census, 2.2% (0.9 million people) of Kenyans live with some form of disability. The results indicate that 1.9% of men have a disability compared with 2.5% of women.
Article 9 of the Conventions on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) states that State parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure all persons living with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communication,” it continued to read.
