Plans are underway to streamline government employment to ensure equal job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua announced looming changes within the employment sector to ensure adherence to the law that requires allocation of a minimum of 5 per cent of employment slots to people with disabilities.
Dr Mutua, who appeared before the Senate plenary on Wednesday, May 14, said he has formally asked the Public Service Commission (PSC) to issue circulars requiring all government ministries, departments and agencies to streamline their employment data as per the law.
He noted that the ministries, departments and agencies would soon be required to specifically indicate the number of persons with disabilities employed.
According to the Labour minister, the records would form a basis for accountability and tracking the employment progress of ministries and state departments.
"We have been issuing formal reminders, which we issue to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), reiterating their legal obligation under the Act, which says that at least 5 per cent of employment be reserved for persons with disabilities," Mutua said.
He added: "The Ministry has formally engaged the Public Service Commission to issue circulars requiring the MDAs to meet disseminated employment data, specifically indicating the number of persons with disabilities employed."
Mutua told the lawmakers that he was also in talks with government agencies to explore enforcement measures against MDAs that contradict the legal requirement.
The latest announcement comes a week after President William Ruto assented to the Persons with Disabilities Bill 2025 to safeguard the rights of the disabled in society.
Speaking at State House on May 8, moments after signing the bill, Ruto said the disabled people in Kenya faced many challenges, which he noted were deeply rooted in structural, social, political, and cultural systems.
During the meeting, the Head of State directed PSC to reinstate the Disability Mainstreaming Performance Indicator in staff contracts to uphold inclusion in the public employment sector.
“I assure you that the government is fully committed to translating the provisions of this law into tangible improvements in the lives and welfare of persons with disabilities,” he said.
