Politics

Parties Registrar condemn politicians for deserting PLWDs

Published

3 years ago

August 26, 2021

Political Party Registrar Anne Nderitu [p/courtesy]

The Political Parties Registrar Anne Nderitu has condemned political parties for delaying the affirmative action in respect of persons living with disabilities. Ms Nderitu who spoke on Thursday said that PLWDs have not been to be given a conducive space push their ambitions through political parties.

She was addressing PLWDs who are officials in some of the 75 registered political parties in Kenya when she challenged political parties to shift from archaic approach and rope in the special interest group. Nderitu also challenged the political parties to deal with the divisions that exists among the PLWDs themselves.

“Affirmative action on PLWDs is slower compared with those involving women, youth, and marginalized groups …..As we think of the political space, segregation still exists, hence the place for political parties to champion the rights of these groups …..Let us deal with segregation among disabled persons. Let’s not divide further amongst yourselves,” Nderibu said.

She further advised political parties to form active PLWD leagues and urged parties to register more PLWDs as members noting that the current register has low number of the interest group registered in comparison to the country’s population. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that PLWDs make 2.2% of the general population.

Other officials from Ndeiru’s office who spoke at the event also challenged parties to formulate policies that would help PLWDs deal with stigma, high cost of politics, poor accountability, seal existing administrative gaps and ensure a level play ground.

Nderitu further stated that she is hopeful the Political Primaries Bill, 2021, which proposes indirect nomination for PLWDs through a delegate system to help in dealing with some the challenges the group if facing in terms of inclusivity.

“We are keen on issues of inclusion of every Kenyan in the political and electoral processes. Every Kenyan has a right and an equal opportunity in the economic and political space,” she added.

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