By Seliphar Machoni
At the Kakamega Social Hall, Werino is seen with one hand on his cheek, looking sad, full of
thoughts, and lost.
Like any other resident of Kakamega County, Werino was presenting his papers with hopes of
being part of the youth selected for the Kazi Mtaani opportunities meant for the youth.
Kazi Mtaani is a government initiative that offers employment in various sectors, such as
cleaning marketplaces.
Jobless, Werino had hopes of being among those employed so he could feed himself.
Due to his disability, Werino could not communicate in a way the selection officers could
understand.
Werino is deaf, and during the selection process, there were no interpreters available to translate
what he was saying to the selection panel, causing him to miss out on the Kazi Mtaani
opportunity.
This adds to the rising number of jobless youth in Kenya. Kenya has an unemployment rate of 12
per cent, with youth accounting for 68 per cent of the unemployed population.
Additionally, the country is grappling with a cost-of-living crisis fueled by high inflation rates.
Werino's story was one of many shared during the recent youth engagement forum in Luandeti.
At this forum, the disabled community voiced their frustrations over the lack of accessibility to
government offices and how they are often excluded from many government opportunities.
“I tried everything, including writing down why I was at the social hall that day, but because of
my broken English, no one understood me. If only they had sign language interpreters, I know by
now I would be working under the Kazi Mtaani initiative. I felt left out and invisible,” Werino
lamented through a friend who spoke on his behalf during the forum.
His experience is just one of many challenges faced by the disabled community when seeking
services. Not only do the deaf suffer, but according to Werino, even the physically disabled find
it hard to access offices that lack ramps.
“Sometimes, those of us in wheelchairs find it hard to access some offices due to the lack of
ramps, which would make movement easier. This is also unfair,” he said.
The forum attendees voiced strong support for immediate action to address these accessibility
issues. They called on the local government to prioritize the installation of ramps in all public
buildings and to employ interpreters to assist the deaf and hard of hearing.
"We need to create an inclusive environment where everyone can access government services.
It's not just a matter of convenience. It's a matter of rights,” said Esther.
The youth engagement forum in Luandeti was a powerful reminder of the importance of
inclusivity in governance. The stories shared, particularly by members of the disabled
community, highlighted critical gaps in infrastructure and services that need urgent attention.
As the forum concluded, participants echoed a common sentiment: the time for action is now.
Local authorities must respond to these concerns to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their
abilities, can access the services they need and participate fully in the democratic process.
