Kenya Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities

Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter is a proverb that reminds us of the importance of perspective, voice, and representation. As women with disabilities, or broadly as people with disabilities, we have the privilege now, to tell our stories, to frame them in a way that returns dignity to our lives. Because often, this perspective is missing. In this piece,  Mildred Omino reflects on why more women with disabilities must occupy high level policy engagements. Please read on.   ‘When more people are used to our presence, especially in high policy events, maybe, just maybe, they will stop making ableist remarks masked as complements.’  ‘You are so eloquent!’ I was a speaker in a policy event that brought together key stakeholders in public and private sectors. I made pretty powerful remarks. My lived experience growing up as a disabled girl has brought with it many lessons. I have had to turn around experiences that were not so good, to w...

There is a disturbing video of a Kenyan MP asking a person with a disability (someone of short stature) to run across a podium, to make a point as to why people with a disability cannot be employed in the police force. The MP asks the disabled man to make a ‘salute gesture’ and goes ahead to laugh at the whole scenario, while saying that ‘people should stop joking about hiring disabled people in the police force.’ At the Podium where everyone laughs at the deeply concerning scene of blatant ableism, sits the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the security docket. There is also another man with a disability on the podium. This has drawn widespread and sharp criticism, as it should. As women with disabilities, we are also adding our voices to condemn it.  Ableism as violence At the onset, we are naming this type of violence. It is called ableism. Ableism is a form of discrimination against people with disabilities rooted in the belief that nondisabled people or typical abilities—such as ...

The Network and CREA have recently collaborated on an inspiring piece of work to advance conversations on preventing and eliminating gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls, including those with disabilities, as well as strengthening women’s leadership and women’s political participation in decision-making. This is under the Women Gaining Ground (WGG) Consortium.  WGG aims to equip women and girls with the necessary tools and skills to be architects of a society free from violence, and lead political and social transformation to redefine, prevent, and eliminate GBV. The collaborative piece entailed two strands. Firstly, we brought together women with disabilities who are members of the Network to reflect and dialogue on progress made in as far as ending violence against women and girls with disabilities, and engagement in political participation is concerned. Secondly, and as a follow-up, we held a Policy Dialogue event that brought together stakeholders from governmen...

As part of our Ford Foundation funded grant on engaging young girls with disabilities (and boys) on their leadership trajectories and civic engagement, we had the honour to meet learners in tertiary institutions as part of our project participants. The learners, young women with diverse disabilities, are pursuing different degree courses at both the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. We see their participation in the project as being really important as they join others from primary schools, as well as a High school. At Network level we are intentional about making these intergenerational connections among different age groups of women with disabilities, if only it can play a part in supporting more engagement by women with disabilities in leadership opportunities. We base all this in the context of underrepresentation of women with disabilities in governance and leadership.   This meeting was especially inspirational as it vividly showed us the journeys that our...

Commentary by Elizabeth Ombati and Jane Kihungi Many activists and human rights defenders spend a considerable amount of time on travel. The disability mantra has always been nothing about us without us, signifying the critical importance especially for activists with disabilities to be in spaces where decisions are made that affect the lives of people with disabilities.  Many activists have often decried global travel experiences; with many calling the processes surrounding this travel as humiliating. This is more so when it comes to the acquisition of visas. Visa restrictions for activists from the Global South is not new to many activists. Visa restrictions is one of the many ways that meaningful participation by activists and human rights defenders in global convenings is hampered.  But it is not the only one. For activists with disabilities, it is often double tragedy, especially when it comes to airplanes. In March this year, I (Jane) was invited to take part in the 69th...

By Rose Resiato  As a woman with a disability, Rose Resiato has often found herself having to take the role of a ‘teacher’ if only to make her community a little more inclusive, and a little more aware about people with disabilities. ‘It is not always easy,” she says, ‘to keep telling people that as a woman with a disability, I am still a person, that disability is not contagious, and that they should not look at me as one that should be avoided.’ It can be tiring, rightfully so, because no one wants to explain their circumstances daily to people around them. No one wants to have people’s lingering gazes on them each second of their life. Yet, as Resi reminds us, ‘ableism is so entrenched in our communities, and we must do all we can to stop it.’ Read on     On this day, I was traveling to Nairobi to meet some friends. I chose my usual spot in the bus — the one with enough legroom to sit comfortably. A mother and her young daughter boarded shortly after. The girl was...