First Lady Rachel Ruto has asked Members of Parliament to pass legislation that provides sufficient funding for specialized classes in the country.
Speaking during the World Autism Day celebrations in Kasarani, the first lady acknowledged that autism awareness and support were imperative for the inclusion of students living with specialised needs.
According to the First Lady, all stakeholders, including the Ministries of Health and Education and the Members of Parliament, must work together to ensure students with specialised needs get an equal share of resources.
"To our legislators present today, I make a special appeal: let us pass legislation that provides sufficient funding for specialised classes within our existing school infrastructure," Rachel appealed.
Further, the First Lady urged the county governments to ensure that the nutritional needs of learners with developmental disorders are considered when planning school feeding initiatives.
"Proper nutrition plays a critical role in children's well-being and development. Through our Feed One Hunger initiative, my office supports school-based nutrition by establishing fruits and kitchen gardens and advocating for the return of a national school milk program to show our support to our children with autism,'' Rachel continued.
While emphasising the need for support, Rachel has promised her commitment to stand with children living with autism in the country. The first lady also revealed that President Ruto has committed to supporting children with developmental challenges.
According to her, the government has committed to ensuring that patients are heard, involved, and given every opportunity to thrive in the country.
Rachel Ruto insisted that although the ultimate number of individuals with autism is still not clear, four per cent of the population is estimated to be living with this spectrum.
Kenya's National Assembly has made strides in addressing autism through broader disability legislation through the Person with Disability Bill, which was passed to enhance protection and support for individuals with disabilities, including those with autism.
Kenya, however, does not have a specific autism law, which experts and stakeholders are pushing for.
World Autism Awareness Day, established by the United Nations, is observed annually on April 2 to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and promote acceptance and inclusion for autistic individuals.
