verbatim report of constituency public hearings ... - ConstitutionNet

77Com. Lethome: Asante sana Bwana Muya. Uko na memorandum? Enda ukaandikishe jina pale hivo. Sasa nitamwita MwangiKaringithi kutoka Disabled people of Mathira Welfare Association.Mwangi Karingithi: Thank you Commissioners, secretaries and those people who have come to bring in their views. This is amemorandum of the disabled people of Mathira welfare association. We have got recommendations whereby I will give a fewof them.The Employment Act on discrimination against people with disabilities be amended to provide affirmative action to createemployment for persons with disabilities. A disability tax relief for employed persons with handicaps. Disability allowance forthe unemployed persons who are unable to secure employment on account of their disabilities and have no means of incomeshould be enacted.Ministries and the Local Authorities to consider enacting businesses operated BY disabled persons free from all levydemanded by the Ministry and Local Authority. A law should be enacted for disabled parents to have their children receive freeeducation if they have no gainful employment or business to enable them pay school fees. Otherwise there shall a line of illiteratefamilies due to disability persons’ poverty. A law compelling parents of handicapped children to provide education facilities beenacted. Making education compulsory for these children would give a positive move for their learning as most of them areignored by parents. Education Act should be amended with special reference to learners with special needs according to theirdisability. That is in the University, if you go there you will find some of the students have no access to their places of learning,because some of them are using wheelchairs and crutches and whatever have you.Disabled persons, most of them are denied access to public facilities. The pavements you find, stairs and whatever have you,make it a hindrance to their access. Even in some offices where the service provider has to come from the office and meet theperson just at the pavement. The law should be enacted for all constructions, buildings, roads and even play grounds to bemade usable by disabled persons. There should be an income tax amendment whereby wheelchairs, crutches, white cane,hearing aids and readers service brails that make people communicate be available to the disabled people. TelecommunicationTax Act Cap 473, should be reviewed as it affects communication apparatus and services denying the disabled person certainprivileges.Public Service Vehicles should be modified to have room for disabled persons especially wheelchair users. The Transport Actshould be reviewed to enact a law to have drivers to have proper consideration for disabled persons. Accidents and illnessesare some of the causes of disabilities. The Health Ministry should have an Act whereby the medical charges are waved for suchpersons. Whereby they create free treatment as part of my recommendation.Disabled persons are the only right people to be consulted and included in the decision making process on matters affecting