Lobby demands ramps in buildings

PHOTO | FILE A participant follows proceedings during a wheelchair conference on March 16, 2010.

What you need to know:

  • The Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK) said its members had problems accessing the buildings, some of which house public offices
  • A spot check by the Nation established that most people with disability in wheel-chairs were being served on ground floors of government and private offices

Most high-rise buildings in Nakuru Town are yet to comply with a regulation requiring them to build ramps to provide easy access to people with disabilities.

The Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK) on Tuesday said its members had problems accessing the buildings, some of which house public offices.

“This is a constitutional requirement and some of the owners of these buildings are still taking time to construct the ramps despite writing to them,” the lobby’s vice-chairman, Mr Fred Owako said.

A spot check by the Nation established that most people with disability in wheel-chairs were being served on ground floors of government and private offices.

Mr Owako, who is also the Nakuru County APDK chairman, said they had written to public and private service providers, including banks, hotels, telecommunication companies, supermarkets among others, asking them to set up ramps.

“Some institutions and building owners are arrogant and any time we remind them to comply, they ridicule us in a most demeaning manner.”