Michael Ndurumo’s lifelong dedication to advancing the rights and dignity of the deaf community earned him one of Kenya’s highest honours in 2025, when the United Nations in Kenya named him Person of the Year.
The award recognised his pivotal role in developing Kenyan Sign Language, shaping disability policy, and championing inclusion for millions of hearing-impaired citizens.
Ndurumo, who has been deaf since the age of eight due to illness, grew up at a time when Kenya lacked a formal sign language. What began as a childhood necessity evolved into a career devoted to creating a structured, shared language for deaf Kenyans.
Beyond language development, Ndurumo was instrumental in advocating for mandatory sign language interpretation on television broadcasts, expanding access to news and information for the deaf community.
Through the Africa Institute of Deaf Studies and Research, which he founded, Ndurumo has trained hundreds of teachers and specialists in inclusive education. His mentorship has nurtured generations of professionals who now work across Kenya advocating for and supporting deaf learners.
In 2025, the UN recognition highlighted not only his past achievements but also his ongoing leadership in promoting inclusion as he continues to push for equal access to education, employment, and public services, emphasising that communication is a fundamental right.