Government faulted over delayed implementation of PWD Act 2025, one year on

The Act introduced wide-ranging reforms aimed at promoting inclusion, accessibility, and socio-economic empowerment for persons living with disabilities across Kenya. However, leaders say the benefits envisioned under the law are yet to be realized due to slow implementation.

Speaking during the “Disability, the Bible and the Church Conference” held at Christ Is The Answer Ministries (CITAM), the leaders said the failure to operationalize the law continues to lock millions of Kenyans with disabilities out of meaningful participation in society.

Nominated Senator Crystal Asige, who sponsored the legislation, said Parliament had already fulfilled its mandate and urged the Executive, religious institutions, and grassroots organizations to push for the law’s full implementation.

“The PWD Act, 2025 is now law. We have done our part as Parliamentarians, but we need more concerted efforts from churches and other grassroots organizations to sensitize the public and communities on what the Act seeks to achieve and to pressure the government to operationalize it,” she said.

Senator Asige noted that the law contains progressive provisions aimed at improving accessibility standards, reforming transport systems, and strengthening employment protections for persons with disabilities.

She, however, expressed frustration that a year after its enactment, the law remains largely unimplemented.

“It is unfortunate that one year on, we are still waiting for the PWD Act to be put into practice. It is a law that is being treated as a suggestion. Disability should not be treated as a secondary issue. Once an Act becomes law, implementation should follow immediately,” she said.

She further called on the public and disability rights advocates to intensify pressure on the government.

“We need the wider society to speak up. We need people who believe in the rights of persons with disabilities to act now and fight for those who have historically been excluded,” she added.

Nominated MP Harun Kipchumba called for greater representation of persons with disabilities in political and civic leadership, while emphasizing the need to mainstream disability issues in national budgeting processes.

“Systemic gaps have persisted for years and remain unresolved. Weak policy alignment and lack of prioritization of disability issues have contributed to delays in implementing the Act. Without dedicated budgetary allocation and coordinated implementation, the law risks remaining only on paper,” he said.

Kipchumba also criticized delays by government ministries, particularly the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, in developing the regulations and policy frameworks required to operationalize the law.

“The absence of clear policy guidelines, inadequate budget appropriation, and lack of political goodwill have collectively stalled progress. There is also low public awareness, with many people still unaware of what the Act contains,” he added.

National Council for Persons with Disabilities representative Duncan Chengo said negative societal attitudes and stigma continue to undermine efforts toward inclusion.

“We all need an all-hands-on-deck approach to end stigma and discrimination by becoming more sensitive to the challenges faced by persons with disabilities,” he said.

The event was organized by Hope Mobility Kenya, a charity organization that manufactures and distributes wheelchairs to persons with disabilities across Kenya and the wider East African region.