The United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Nairobi ¡ª in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator¡¯s Office, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Kenya, and the Kenya Society for the Blind (KSB) ¡ª today launched Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) communications materials in both Braille and Kenyan Sign Language, to contribute to advancing disability inclusion.
This marks the first time the global development agenda has been made accessible in these formats for visually and hearing-impaired communities in the country.
The SDGs in Braille posters and the audio visual and Sign Language video were released during the official launch of the Kenya Joint Disability Inclusion Strategy 2025¨C2027.
The Joint Strategy is a landmark framework designed to accelerate the rights, empowerment, and inclusion of persons with disabilities nationwide, and is a partnership between the Government of Kenya and 71 organisations from civil society, the private sector and development partners and the United Nations.
¡°This is a statement of intent and commitment,¡± said Joseph M. Motari, Principal Secretary for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs of the Joint Strategy. ¡°We are determined to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind, and that inclusion is not just a principle, but a practice.¡±
Widening Reach Through Strong Partnerships
To reach as many people as possible, the SDG materials will be distributed nationwide through organisations of persons with disabilities (OPD), including the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), as well as the United Nations itself.
¡°Access to information is a fundamental human right,¡± said Sandra Macharia, Director of UNIS Nairobi. ¡°Persons with disabilities are not passive recipients of development ¡ª they are active partners in shaping it.¡±
Policy-Driven Inclusion
The Joint Strategy is anchored on five pillars - Economic Empowerment, Political Empowerment, Digital Empowerment, Access to Facilities and Services, and Data and Statistics. The NCPWD will serve as lead coordinating agency working with designated pillar leaders and implementation clusters to drive delivery.
It follows the signing into law of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2025 in May, which provides a legal framework for protecting, promoting, and advancing disability rights.
