People With Disability Call For Fresh Appointment Of PSs, Parastatal Heads: "We Feel Neglected"

• People with disability expressed their disappointment after President William Ruto failed to appoint them to his Cabinet
• They have called for the dissolution of principal secretary positions to create room for new appointments that will include PWDs
• Additionally, they called for complete enforcement of the legal mandate that ensures women, youth, and PWDs receive 30% of government procurement opportunities

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

People with disabilities are now urging President William Ruto to dismiss all principal secretaries, parastatal heads, and departmental directors to create space for a more inclusive government.

The group has criticised the president for excluding individuals with disabilities in his recent Cabinet appointments.

"The sooner President Ruto changes the PSS, CEOs and Directors the better. The more he delays, the more they also delay progress. He goes around the country saying he has set aside and launched projects but his team is letting him down. Changes are needed and he has to accommodate the disabled in the government," said Hafid Maalim, the group's chairperson.

PWDs claim government overlooks them in appointments

He noted that people with disabilities "feel neglected" and that their constitutional right to occupy at least 5% of elective and appointive public positions has been disregarded.

They urged the Ministry of Labour to ensure the 5% allocation principle is enforced across all levels of government so that individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to secure employment.

"For the longest time, people with disabilities have faced discrimination both in the public and private sector leaving us at the mercy of well-wishers that's why we have so many cases of begging everywhere," he added

The group is advocating for the complete enforcement of the legal mandate that ensures women, youth, and persons with disabilities receive 30% of government procurement opportunities through the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) programme.

There is also speculation that President Ruto may appoint new Principal Secretaries and heads of parastatals to create additional opportunities for a broader range of individuals in the government.

How did Ruto fail people with disabilities?

In other news, the group accused Ruto of negating his campaign promises to them.

According to Hafid Maalim, the Kenya Kwanza regime has ignored their community in all government appointments and other opportunities available.

Maalim said they could consider taking legal action to prompt the government to honour the Constitution's provision on just and fair representation.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke