Calls for digital inclusion, fight against FGM mark disability day

On December 3, the World marked World Disability Day themed "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future."

The British High Commission in Kenya, together with Civil Society Organisations celebrated the day by amplifying calls for digital inclusion. 

Deputy High Commissioner Dr. Ed Barnett highlighted the impact of the Commission’s Digital Access Programme in enabling digital access for PWDs. 

According to Dr. Barnett, the Digital Access Programme has reached over 5 million people across Kenya since 2019. 

“The programme has supported government websites like E-citizen and over 14,000 digital government services to make them accessible,” he said. 

Here, stakeholders also flagged the relationship between Gender Based Violence (GBV) actions such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and disability. 

“The impact of FGM on the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of its victims is profound, and the devastating effects are even more severe for persons with disabilities. There is little to no conversation on how FGM impacts persons with disabilities, or how the practice has led to disability for some women and girls,” noted Mercy Wanjau, Kenya’s Secretary to Cabinet. 

Nastehe, a founder of Daaya Women’s Group in Tana River is among women who became disabled after undergoing FGM. 

“When I was a teen, I noticed girls would walk normally and I had to use crutches. I got curious and asked my mum what happened to me. She told me that I was born without any form of disability, and at 5yrs, she was forced to subject me to FGM/C. I was tied up to up to avoid any movements, but I was too young to understand what that meant.  Then, one day while I was still tied up, I had urge to move my body; I fell on a rock and got a permanent injury,” she recalls. 

Daaya is part of the CSOs Network on ending FGM/C, which is part of The Girl Generation-Support to the Africa-led movement to end FGM/C Programme.

TGG-ALM seeks to accelerate positive changes in social attitudes toward ending FGM/C, within a broader vision of a world where girls and women can exercise their power and rights, have expanded choice and agency, and be free from all forms of violence.