Disability need not be hindrance to full participation in elections

Democracy is considered to be the best form of government because it is the only one that recognises and protects the intrinsic value and equality of each individual. Participating in elections is the essential starting point of any democratic system.

This is the reason why the Constitution guarantees all of us the right to vote. The right to vote is a fundamental right for all Kenyans.

On August 8, Kenyans will go to the polls to elect their president, members of the National Assembly, County Assembly and the Senate. The national voter registration going on is the last one prior to the polling day. It closes on February 14.

By this time, it is expected that the IEBC will have registered about 15 million voters. Out of these, a critical number of will be persons with disabilities. About 4 million Kenyans registered as voters are persons with disabilities.

This is not a mean number by any standards. It clearly demonstrates that persons with disabilities are an important constituency in the forthcoming elections. However, this might translate into their active participation in the next elections.

Historically, the electioneering period in Kenya comes with a lot of anxiety. It is a period of heightened tension and suspicion. This situation sometimes degenerates into political violence as the brigades of rival candidates descend on their opponents with the view to intimidating them from voting for their preferred candidates.

The situation in the coming months up to August is likely to witness ugly scenes as the tension building up during the ongoing voter registration rises.

However, research indicates that the participation of persons with disabilities is still limited, not only in election processes, but also in policy and development programmes. For several reasons, many persons with disabilities are unable to enjoy their constitutional rights, including effective participation in the whole election process. This includes registration, campaigning, voting and being elected.

Electoral participation is foundational to liberal democracies. Voting is about many things: participation in elections, choosing representatives through a legitimate process, connecting with parties and wider political and governmental systems, exercising democratic rights, and learning about, and debating, social issues and public policy choices.

The electoral process helps determine the nature of politics and the kind of society in which we live. If certain groups, because of economic and social barriers and disadvantages, do not participate in elections regularly and visibly, particular issues, concerns and needs central to their lives will most likely remain at the margins of our politics and policy-making.

The situation can be complicated when political rallies become chaotic with persons with disabilities, the old, children and women being caught in the crossfire. As the country readies itself for the campaign period and eventual voting, there is a need to ensure peaceful campaigns and voting before and after August 8, to ensure the safety of all persons with disabilities, bearing in mind that the conditions of peace and security based on full respect for the purpose and principles contained in the Constitution and Persons With Disabilities Act 2003, are indispensable for their full protection to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms including civic and political rights.

This will ensure that social-political inclusion of persons with disabilities becomes a reality and consequently improve their participation and involvement in national politics. As we approach the big day, it will be prudent for the IEBC and the government at large to ensure that there is a conducive environment for all eligible voters to participate in the elections.

Some of the issues that must be addressed, include accessibility of polling stations and election materials, civic and voters’ education, availability of assistive services such as sign language interpretation for the deaf at the poll stations and in the media campaigns to mention but a few.

The right to vote by persons with disabilities is espoused in the Persons with Disabilities Act 2003 Section 29, on voting and Section 30, on polling stations. There must be a friendly environment for persons with disabilities to exercise their right to vote.

This is vital if we are to show the rest of the world that Kenya is truly a democratic country.