The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992, has been observed annually on December 3rd to promote the rights, dignity, and well-being of persons with disabilities. The day serves as a global reminder of the ongoing need to dismantle barriers, physical, technological, social, and attitudinal, to ensure the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in every sphere of life. It calls upon communities, institutions, businesses, and governments to reaffirm their commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
Each year, the United Nations announces a theme to guide global observance. The 2025 theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” emphasises the urgent need to accelerate inclusion by ensuring that persons with disabilities are both agents and beneficiaries of sustainable development. It reinforces the understanding that social progress cannot be achieved without the meaningful participation of all members of society.
Across regions, persons with disabilities and their households continue to face disproportionate challenges in the pursuit of social and economic empowerment. Persisting discrimination in employment, lower wages, limited opportunities, and overrepresentation in the informal sector heighten the risk of poverty. Social protection systems remain uneven and insufficient, often failing to account for the additional costs associated with disability. Many individuals still experience care systems that deny dignity, autonomy, and agency, highlighting the urgent need for reform.
The three pillars of social development- poverty eradication, productive employment, and social integration- remain deeply interconnected. For these objectives to be realised, societies must cultivate environments that uplift and include persons with disabilities. Disability inclusion is not optional; it is an imperative for achieving equitable social progress.
Kenya’s Legislative and Policy Advances
Re-Imagining New Communities joins the world in commemorating IDPD 2025 and embraces this year’s call to build more inclusive societies. Kenya continues to make important strides in disability rights, anchored by the Constitution of Kenya, which remains a strong foundation for disability-inclusive legislation.
Awareness and advocacy around disability rights have grown significantly, not only among persons with disabilities but also through efforts by civil society, legislators, and the wider public. We commend Parliament and the Executive for taking deliberate action to amend sections of the Penal Code that previously contained derogatory language against persons with disabilities.
Kenya’s education sector has also begun transformative reforms intended to enhance inclusion for learners with disabilities. We applaud the passage of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2023, signed into law by His Excellency, President William Ruto, in May 2025. We look forward to the progress of the Learners with Disabilities Bill, 2023 and the Kenya Sign Language Bill, 2023, which remain critical to ensuring equitable access to quality education.
In the health sector, the enactment of the Mental Health (Amendment) Act, 2022, marked a significant milestone toward establishing appropriate and dignified mental healthcare services. We urge legislators to continue prioritising implementation so that these progressive laws translate into meaningful change for communities across Kenya.
Persistent Gaps and the Need for Effective Implementation
While progress is evident, implementation remains a major challenge. According to the 2022/2023 Status Report on Disability Inclusion by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, only 4% of public institutions have met the legally mandated requirement to reserve at least 5% of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. This shortfall underscores the need for renewed commitment to the principles enshrined in Article 54 of the Constitution.
Meaningful inclusion includes ensuring access to accessible public transport, education, health services, information, and assistive technologies. Legislation must be accompanied by robust enforcement and budgetary allocations to ensure sustainable impact.
Additionally, recent research highlights gaps in addressing the needs of persons with albinism. While the National Action Plan on Albinism (2023–2028) provides a comprehensive framework for healthcare, education, and social inclusion, sustained funding, improved data systems, and consistent policy enforcement remain essential.
Mental health services continue to face chronic underfunding, resulting in shortages of mental health professionals and limited access to appropriate care. Without adequate investment, mental health challenges will continue to be compounded by stigma, discrimination, and unmet health needs.
Why This Day Matters
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is more than a symbolic observance; it is a global call to action. Marginalisation and exclusion remain among the most significant barriers faced by persons with disabilities today. Isolation from workplaces, social life, decision-making spaces, and cultural participation profoundly affects mental health and overall well-being.
Celebrating this day helps shine a spotlight on the positive societal impact of inclusion. It encourages governments and organisations to reassess their commitments and invest in systems that support equality and dignity for all.
As the United Nations emphasises, the day is intended “to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.”
Our Commitment
For Re-Imagining New Communities, disability inclusion is inseparable from peacebuilding. Exclusion, marginalisation, and systemic discrimination against persons with disabilities create conditions of injustice that undermine social cohesion and fuel inequality, resentment, and conflict.
Our peacebuilding work recognises that sustainable peace is built when all members of society are able to participate meaningfully in shaping their communities. Persons with disabilities possess lived experiences, perspectives, and leadership that are essential for addressing social tensions, strengthening community resilience, and promoting non-violence.
By intentionally centering disability inclusion, we challenge harmful power imbalances, dismantle structural barriers, and foster environments where dignity, empathy, and mutual respect can flourish. Inclusive peacebuilding ensures that no one is left at the margins and affirms that social progress and lasting peace are only possible when diversity is recognised as a strength rather than a limitation.
On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we reaffirm our dedication to fostering societies where everyone can participate fully, equally, and confidently.