Memorandum
on
The
Plight of Deaf Kenyans
and
the opportunities to right the wrongs of Kenya's largest marginalized
community
Population:
Estimated 1 Million – WHO
estimates 15% of the world population have disabilities. This
estimates encompasses persons who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of
Hearing, a socio-linguistic cultural minority who use Kenyan Sign
Language in their communications. Mostly these individuals are in
urban areas but many remain hidden in their homes due to stigma and
shame associated with this disability. Statistically, however there
is still a large number of persons with hearing loss who go about
life without identifying themselves with the larger Deaf community
nor use Kenyan Sign Language in their every day life. There is a great
need to have the correct number of persons who are Deaf for proper
service delivery and national planning.
Historically,
the
Deaf people in Kenya have been left out of mainstream societal
development due to their language and culture. This explains the
marginalization of this minority group in the earlier history of
Kenya. Missionaries, educationists and foreign volunteers saw this
and working with the locals established the first schools for the
Deaf in the late 1950's and early 1960's in Western, Central and
Coastal regions of the country. Deaf Kenyans use Kenyan Sign Language
which had it's 'formal' existence traced to the schools of the Deaf.
Like elsewhere in the world, the hearing world (speaking communities)
have held negative attitudes towards the deaf persons, deafness and
hearing loss. Many people believed and still do that the Deaf cannot
be taught, are dumb, retarded or incapable of carrying out daily
activities such as reading, cooking, taking care of children or
having a job or a family. Thus many of the parents on discovery that
they have a Deaf child they will often go into denial, hide the child
and seek medical intervention to correct the deafness or hearing
loss. This often leads to frustration both for the parents and the
child who will miss out on language acquisition that normally happens
at this age, gets late admission into school etc Society also
contributes to further marginalize the Deaf in Kenya through their
lack of awareness on Deafness. Our schools are created to be Audist (hearing superior) in nature, when you look at the languages taught they emphasize on
writing, listening (hearing), reading (speaking) which practically
locks out the Deaf child from being part of the education system
where not all teachers in the schools for the Deaf comprehending or
having training in Kenyan Sign Language.
Looking
forward how
do we move on? There are strides we have made as a nation that puts
us ahead of many nations in Sub Sahara Africa and indeed among the
global community. Kenya ratified the UN Convention on Persons with
Disabilities in May 2005, followed by enactment of the Persons with
Disabilities Act 2005 and most recently the Constitution of Kenya
2010 have reaffirmed Kenyans commitment to form a government based on
the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy,
social justice and the rule of law.
With
these adoptions and enactments are to naught if these laws are not
implemented, enforced or exercised. This memorandum takes a look on
how the Jubilee administration can and should move forward in
empowering the Deaf community in Kenya to enjoy their rights, have a
more productive quality life away from the shackles of oppression,
stigma, discrimination and violations that have dominated their lives
for hundreds of years.Here is how.....
Our
Constitution recognizes Kenyan Sign Language a national language at
par with Kiswahili and English due to its national and cohesive
attributes. Kenyan Sign Language is one of the languages of
parliament and by extension the senate and county assemblies. The
constitution is also very clear on the rights of Deaf Kenyans to use
Kenyan Sign Language in every day life, to enjoy Deaf culture and to
be free from discrimination as a linguistic minority. Articles 7
(3b); 27(4); 35 (1b); 44(1); 54 (1d); 56 (d); 120 (1)
Enactment
of a Kenyan Sign Language Act – a legislation that would define the issues of deafness covering the
early intervention for children, care and treatment of hearing loss;
establishing a Kenyan Sign Language Institute to research, document
and provide guidance on Interpreters training, employment and
regulation.
Recognize,
promote, accept and facilitate the use of Kenyan Sign Language
- the more the citizens see this happen, families and communities
will follow the lead that the government has taken to use the
language in public and thus liberate the Deaf Kenyans form the
stigma they so often experience.
Facilitate
the research, development and learning of Kenyan Sign Language and
the promote the linguistic identity of the Deaf community – the
language currently is under-researched, documentation has been scanty
with little happening in higher institutions of learning. Establishment of a Kenyan Sign Language institute would facilitate
the research and learning of the language, history and culture of
the Deaf Kenyans. The institute would ensure that teachers for the
Deaf, interpreters and linguists are trained and deployed to the
various needy institutions that require their services.
Provide
information intended for the general public in Kenyan Sign Language
this will ensure all Deaf Kenyans can seek, receive and impart
information on an equal basis with others. With the employment of
professional interpreters this will be achieved.
Urging
and encouraging the private entities that provide services to the
general public to provide information and services in Kenyan Sign
Language – hospitals,
schools, universities, banks, parastatals, government agencies, the
police, courts etc will have provision to provide services in the
language by employing Deaf Kenyans or interpreters for accessibility
of their services.
Encourage
the mass media to make their services accessible in Kenyan Sign
Language – a
lot of communication and information from government is passed by
the media to the general mostly in the national languages of Kenya.
This should be the same for Kenyan Sign Language, have Interpreters
work with the Presidential Press Office, Kenya Broadcasting
Corporation and Office responsible for National Events. The National
Assembly through the Research office has done the same in
collaboration with KBC.
Employment
– affirmative action in the public service to employ qualified
Deaf Kenyans to work within the public service sector.
Implementation
of the above will result in the following:-
Kenyan
people will change their attitudes towards Kenyan Sign Language and
the Deaf community, Deaf culture and deafness.
Deaf
people will have more or better access to information, education,
political and socioeconomic activities or interactions.
Deaf
people will gain more confidence in the learning process,
self-expression, in communicating with hearing people and in
enjoying their rights.
Improved
quality of life for Deaf Kenyans through employment opportunities
for Deaf individuals.
