Sunday 2 September 2007

Sign Language Interpreters in Kenya: A Brief Overview


Sign Language Interpreters in Kenya: A Brief Overview
Jack Owiti & Wanjiku Gilchrist
Kenyan Sign Language Interpreters Association
There is a growing number of sign language interpreters in Kenya working with the Deaf
Community but none have received suitable training in the profession as there is no
formal training for sign language interpreters available in Kenya. We will discuss the
interpreter's status & role in Kenya's Deaf community from different perspectives, based
on the model of interpreters i.e. helper, conduit, communication facilitor etc. We will
address the needs that may arise for interpreters when receiving training, specially in
the linguistic aspects.
We will have a look at the development of Kenyan Sign Language Interpreters
Association and the history of sign language interpreting & training in Kenya. Our past
experiences will be discussed, the obstacles we faced, the recognition we fought for etc.
We will discuss the language issues the interpreter will face in Kenya: Swahili and
English are used as national languages, with over 30 tribal languages thrown in.

http://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/afrikanistik/wocal/schedule/abstracts/3-1-3%20Jack%20Owiti%20&%20Wanjiku%20Gilchrist.pdf
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blogged Jack


Here are some blog references about Jack Owiti

 Jack Owiti the hearing interpreter and fluent KSL signer. Not many people know him for who he is. He has been in the Deaf community few years BUT watching him the other day in Spain advocating for the recognition of KSLIA, advocating for the training and qualification of Interpreters I am suprised that some Deaf people are lashing out on him. We all know his work at DOOR, Peace Corps and currently he is hidding not fully involved in the Deaf work. To me I would say he is one of the few advocates the Deaf in Kenya have for the success and recognition of KSL and interpretation. Watch out this young man will revolutionize Kenyan Deaf community. I marvel at his ease in mingling with the Deaf and the hearing - Kenyna Deaf peopl he is your link to change. He too is troubled by the usual peoblems we all have so he is no angel.

by http://deafpride.blogspot.com/

TUESDAY 14 AUGUST 2007

16 FEBRUARY 2007

Jack Owiti's right to reply

Dear Mzee,

my good friend Jack just smsed and emailed me about comments he read on this blog, the issues raised there are not true. He has asked me to let the whole Deaf world know this:

"....I support the initiative that Mzee Bubu has, to create an open space for Deaf Kenyans to vent and to talk about issues troubling them. I do not however support the mudslinging, the personal vendettas and gossip. I would like to inform all that I love my wife and child please do not involve them in Kenyan Deaf politics, gossip and mud slinging. I have NO involvement with the creation, editing or updating of this blog. I appreciate the complement of my IT savvy-ness and I am putting then to productive use and my hands to serving the Deaf Kenyans through Interpreting as the chair of KSLIA..."

that is Jack's message to you to read and make your own judgments. Thanks Mzee Bubu.

Cheers

Concerned Deafie, Nairobi Kenya.

16 FEBRUARY 2007

Jack Owiti's right to reply

Dear Mzee,

my good friend Jack just smsed and emailed me about comments he read on this blog, the issues raised there are not true. He has asked me to let the whole Deaf world know this:

"....I support the initiative that Mzee Bubu has, to create an open space for Deaf Kenyans to vent and to talk about issues troubling them. I do not however support the mudslinging, the personal vendettas and gossip. I would like to inform all that I love my wife and child please do not involve them in Kenyan Deaf politics, gossip and mud slinging. I have NO involvement with the creation, editing or updating of this blog. I appreciate the complement of my IT savvy-ness and I am putting then to productive use and my hands to serving the Deaf Kenyans through Interpreting as the chair of KSLIA..."

that is Jack's message to you to read and make your own judgments. Thanks Mzee Bubu.

Cheers

Concerned Deafie, Nairobi Kenya.

http://deafbride.blogspot.com/2007/09/jack-owiti-has-taken-it-upon-himself-to.html

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

Jack Owiti has taken it upon himself to talk for they deaf people, because thedeaf people cannot speak for themselves. Read on.

My dear friend, let us move from political patronage, masquerading to be benevolent and imposing foreign ideas onto our local Deaf people. As Raila rightly said what this country needs is a bridge – We are happy to be that tool carrying the aspirations of the Kenyan people to the Promised Land.

- Aland that recognizes Kenyan Sign Language
- A land where qualified interpreters are available to the Deaf free
- A land where the Deaf are not oppressed at home, school, work or community
- A land where there is interpretation on TV, Parliament, National holidays and at hospitals, churches, prison…
- A land where Deaf people become doctors, lawyers, business people
- A land where the Deaf are not objects of benevolence but equal partners in development
- A land where Kenyan Deaf students ins schools have teachers speaking their language KSL
- A land where Mzee Bubu and Kiziwi will be a happy place to gossip, share jokes and not fight some experts!

This is my

Vision

Dream

Passion

Mantra

For the Kenyan Deaf Community! This is more tangible than paying 30% PAYE to KRA for the MPs to gulp it into their mheshimiwa potbellies!


JackOwiti!
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

Jack Owiti Wrote

Dear Mzee Kiziwi,

Here is an article I have for your blog....Please publish for the interest of your readers. thanks JO

Halting the Mask of Benevolence:- Empowering the Deaf Kenyans.

As a friend to the Deaf People in Kenya and throughout the world, I have come to appreciate and be part of a dynamic culture, heritage and history of the Deaf Kenyans. I have met some of the most brilliant people in this community and worked with some very excellent programs working with the Deaf.

However we have had several organizations come to Kenya masquarading as missionaries of benevolence helping and giving hope to the Deaf Kenyans. This has become a multi million venture where people of great intentions are sucked into the unending cycle of oppression, dictatorship and neocolonialism disempowering the Deaf leaders and reducing it to beggers and sweets/cigar peddlers and hawkers.

In 1985 SHIA and the Swedish Deaf people helped Kenya form and manage a national Deaf association. 20 Years later we are back at zero due to lack of capacity and empowerement. This is not to discredit SHIA or paint black it's good name, we acknowledge and are thankful for the benevolence and goodwill though we recognize there have been several mistakes and gaps in this process. Personally I still believe that KNAD was disadvantaged to be funded by one donor for that long without systems or mechanism for accountability and transparency.


Over the last two decades there have been several organizations coming into Kenya and establishing 'great' project ideas and visions. Sadly they have not learnt from the mistakes of their forefather - Perpetuation of the Mask of Benevolence. My opinion is that these organizations have never appreciated community entry approaches, view the Deaf as objects of benevolence and not partners in development and are 'copy/pasting' foreign solutions to complex local issues. Many of these organizations have fueled the continued oppression of the Deaf Kenyans, muzzled the voices of the weak and poor while 'eating the ugali' in their big mansions and driving huge luxurious cars in the name of 'helping' Deaf Kenyans. To name a few such initiatives -

- sponsorship of Deaf children....this is not a new thing in Kenya. KSDC has been doing it since 1950s - WHY Replecate?

- digital/interactive KSL manual/dictionary or learning resource - in 2003 Peace Corps volunteers and KSLRP developed an infrastructure for this. Nothing new under the sun ...dah!!!

- support for KNAD to pass through a foreign INGO? this in my opinion is the highest form of neo colonial mask I have ever seen. How can the monkey sit in the jury judging the matters of the forest?

- We need championing in the area of Deaf blindness - many blind Kenyans have a voice but not the Deaf blind -why?

- We do not have a parents of the Deaf initiative making noise for policy change in the education of the Deaf - Free primary education is a case in point - Deaf children receive KES 2,000 compared to the other who receive 5 or even ten times the amount What went wrong? - Simple wrong people being consulted and key stakeholders being neglected period!

As a Kenyan and a critic of these initiatives and organizations I would like to elaborate the key priorities of the Deaf Kenyans as expressed by faceless Deaf Kenyans in English and in a non threatening environment:-

Clearly we have the following priorities that need to be addressed:-

1. Recognition and acceptance of Kenyan Sign Language as the native language of the Kenyan Deaf people - It is the official language for business, instraction and mode of transfering culture and Deaf history and heritage.

2. Coordination of the various scarce resources available for this community. The Finance, Personell and Infrastructure need to be chaneled, phased and equally distributed to the key areas of need - Education, Employment and Environment.

3. Strengthening of KNAD or similar organizations eg KSLRP, KSLIA, and Regional branches of KNAD to better represent the Deaf from these regions.

4. Policy amendments - PWD Act 2003, Special Education Act/policy need to be amended to explicitly and implicitly talk about the Deaf issues - Language, Education, accessibility, healthcare - deaf VCT is a starting point we need the whole continum of care. Policy change is the begining, implementation strategy is very very critical.

5. Empowerment, Empowerment, empowerment - Deaf Kenyans need to be trained, mentored and see models that work. Shinning examples are right here with us - Liverpool VCT, DOOR International, DMI, Peace Corps/Kenya etc etc They are making a difference because they are educating the Deaf and giving them a chance to prove themselves.

I would like to challenge my fellow development workers and the directors and program managers to rethink the strategies that they are employing and to refocus their energies to the bigger issues

- Policy Change - Key to successful advocating.

- Education - Key to success

- Empowerment - Key to good governance

The resounding prophetic call is - NOTHING FOR US WITHOUT US!!! Those who hear and transform will be saved the hardliners will keep fueling the mask of benevolence and keep disempowering the Kenyan Deaf community - Enriching themselves pretending to make a difference with the little hand outs.

Join me in Halting the Mask of Benevolence and fight for the Empowerment of the Deaf Kenyans. The time for those advocating for change is NOW. Stand or be blown away.

Stop the mask! It is your enemy!

Jack Owiti,
Kenyan and Friend to the Deaf in Kenya.
POSTED BY AT 


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