When
we founded KSLIA in September of 2000 the twenty people present on
that day represented the face of interpreting then. We were both
young and old, novice and pros, we were male and female, black and
white and we agreed that the association would look at the following
issues. For the past 14 fourteen years we have barely touched on the
fundamental mandate of the association. I would like to take a moment
and look back at where we have come from, where we are and where we
ought to be as an association.
Talking
to many interpreters in Nairobi and elsewhere there is an apparent
lack of understanding of the reason why KSLIA was formed, its mandate
and objectives. This has resulted in KSLIA having fewer members, near
zero activities and no secretariat. The apathy is reasonable for
there are several contributing factors. The successive change of
office bearers and lack of continuity could be an attributing factor
– while it is a good thing to have new leadership, it is disastrous
when you have successive regime lacking the vision or continuity of
the former. This could be the curse of membership organizations while
it provides for the sovereign will of the people it also allows for
dictatorial and self seeking individuals to manipulate their way into
leadership through short lived popularity, promise of a better
tomorrow and often inactivity.
Between
the year 2000 and 2006 KSLIA infant years saw a core group of leaders
emerge and spearhead the push for recognition of Kenyan Sign
Language. The founding members found themselves useful in this
direction working with the Kenya National Association of the Deaf
(KNAD) which was by then struggling to stand, suffocating in the
murky froth of mismanagement, blurred vision and mixed up priorities
the same curses of membership organizations. Despite the setbacks
there was still little success – the Constitution Review
Commissions provided a disability caucus that saw KNAD have a
permanent voice through the Chairman and the representatives of women
and affiliate branches.
Many
of the interpreters grew in their work both in numbers and in fields
of service. Much of the training of interpreters remained at the 844
complex, quasi association with the deaf and deaf organizations.
Prior to these there was a series of regional training and workshops.
Then KNAD temporarily closed shop due to lack of funds and
frustrations with the funding agencies – Swedish SHIA. This did not dampen the push for language recognition. You may be asking why was
language recognition such an important thing? Well, for Deaf
communities to be liberated, governments and communities must
recognize and accept Signed Languages as part of the social political
and economic medium of information sharing and communication. World
Federation of the Deaf says this about National Signed Languages
“......State parties (national governments) should make their laws
that allow for the Recognizing
and promoting the use of sign languages.....to ensure that persons
with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and
opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all
forms of communication of their choice....”
The
long and short of those five or six years was it laid the foundation
for the insertion of the words Kenyan Sign Language in the
constitution – both the Bomas, Kilifi and Wako drafts. The
emergence of the Deaf Aid white paper – that claimed in part that
there was shortage of interpreters in Kenya woke KSLIA into action
with meetings, elections, workshops and training of more interpreters
in collaboration with Global Deaf Connections. These training created a movement that sort to raise the standards of interpretation
services. The years following 2007, 08, 09 saw the association
conduct several workshops culminating in the first and second
National Interpreters Forums – the reports are available, these were indeed golden moments.
Comes
2010 and the Kenyan government endorses and adapts the new
constitution. Many things begin to change. First, Kenyans Sign
Language becomes an academic and exam subject in Kenyan schools
– primary and secondary – the clarity, appropriateness and
cultural relevance aside – it is a great step and achievement for
the Deaf in Kenya and the rest of Africa. Secondly, the Constitution
of Kenya recognizes KSL as one of the language the government would
promote the development and use of, it also sets it as one of the
languages of the bicameral parliament. This is an achievement many
enjoy without the cognizance that KSLIA or the members that makes it
were in the driving seat of making this dream a reality, of course we
would not have achieved it without the presence, counsel and
contribution of the Deaf community – KNAD.
Four
years later the little gains seems to be forgotten. Many interpreters
now enjoy the opportunities presented with the decades of successful
advocacy. We now have many interpreters employed by the universities,
media houses, local NGOs, private businesses and government
agencies....much more is that many Deaf Kenyans have found
opportunities to earn livelihoods. Amidst this budding success, there
are turncoats spoiling the party. The sourpuss selfseeking and
ignorant idiots are chipping away at the success. The monkey now
judges the trees, there is little regard to KNAD nor KSLIA, there are
various opportunities and sources of little monies and the
facilitators of communication looks down upon the client and asks
questions like – who is KNAD? Why should we consult KNAD? We are
independent, there are many deaf organizations out there why should
we look to one? KSLIA has no mandate to regulate, discipline or
criticize an interpreter so they say-- I am bowed in shame as I
listen and see reckless statements coming from various interpreters
both novice and experienced. Maybe it is time we restate and affirm
the core mandate of KSLIA so that all and sundry will know what they
are and begin to appreciate the reasons we established it.
As
a founding chair and long serving member of KSLIA, I will en-devour to
endear you to KSLIA by answering the following questions candidly and
objectively as possible. Hoping that by the end I will have convinced
you to be associated with KSLIA just as a member or as an agent of
change for the KSLIA we want for 2015 and beyond.
- To secure official recognition by the Government of S.L Interpreters profession
The
number one mandate for KSLIA is to seek recognition by government.
This is only achievable by the legal framework which most professions
have. If you think of doctors, lawyers, teachers, secretaries or
accountants there is a law that governs the training, certification,
remuneration and business ethics. KSLIA has a window of opportunity with the following legal framework avenues available in 2015 and
beyond.
Firstly
there is amendments to the Persons with Disabilities Act – this act
talks of interpretation services but does not define who an
interpreter is, what they do or how to train them. Secondly there is
the Language Policy law that the implementation schedule alludes to.
Herein is the golden most opportunity to define
interpretation/translation professions as central to languages.
Thirdly the open door exists in creation of a separate law – KSL Bill I have called it so in my earlier article “Beyond Recognition of KSL 2014” Prosperity will judge us harshly if we squandered these
opportunities. Why
should I as an interpreter be excited to be affiliated with KSLIA?
This task is huge to be left for a few people to manage, it behooves us to join hands and make it happen.
- Encourage and promote initiatives in improving the standards of SL interpreting and interpreter training and pay scale of interpreters depending with their level and skills of interpretation through certification.
With
a legal frame certification, pay scales and standards will
automatically be regularized. The initiatives here would include
working with academic institutions, consumer organizations and
professional associations.
- Cooperation with other recognized bodies concerned in the welfare of the deaf and in provision of S.L Interpreters throughout the world.
KSLIA
need to revitalize its relationship with KNAD. Globally it needs to
be members of WASLI, WFD and other regional bodies. There is budding
interpreter communities in Ethiopia, Uganda and South Africa that
KSLIA could affiliate with and join with.
- Awareness creation on Deafness and SL. Interpreters through publication of information materials
Apart
from this blog, a few academic papers there is still a lot of
documentation that is needed. KSLIA need more scholars, writers and
researchers who will place it on the global map. The avenues are
numerous with the advent of social media.
- To collect and raise funds for the achievement of goals and objectives through membership fee, subscription, contribution, gifts or donations, commissions and payments, fund raising whether in money or otherwise from both members and non members.
The
five technical working groups – membership, training, systems,
fundraising and publicity need to be nurtured and supported through
an office with staff, volunteers and leaders. The only way to support
this is to recruit members both hearing and deaf interpreters – yes
deaf interpreters it is the only way to create the bridge between the
Deaf and the interpreters world. Why
should I pay my membership? It will help KSLIA be able to achieve the
objectives above.
- To maintain and administer a register of S.L Interpreters in Kenya.
The
key to the success of this lies in the implementation of the legal
framework that would establish a registry. With an education system
that teaches the craft, a certification system it would be easy to
list all those who qualify to be interpreters and thus administering a
register would be possible.
What
is the mandate of KSLIA? As enumerated above, the mandate is very
clear and offers us a starting point, to build a professional
association it is incumbent on us to ask why does KSLIA exist? What
is my role as an interpreter in Kenya in 2015? This club is nothing
without you, by you and you alone can it grow. There are open
opportunities to join as a student interpreter, a practicing
interpreter – the membership fee is very affordable.
KSLIA
salutes all past and present members who have sacrificed their time
and energy to make the association work. It will one day pay and
show, it might seem a bleak future with all the uncertainties and
confusions – there is a ray of hope and light at the end of the tunnel – there are many new people joining the profession, many
learning institutions are interested in employing interpreters and
government is eager than before to provide access to information to
its citizens. We are at the verge of a great time....we stand to gain
much in fulfilling the mandate of this association.
Currently
KSLIA needs volunteers to work in the five technical working groups
or committees it requires lawyers, fundraising professionals, PR
gurus, managers, trainers etc the list is endless. How do I benefit
as a member? Well the benefits are not much remuneration wise,
however you stand the golden opportunity to impact a growing
profession in many different ways and build your professional resume.
The networking opportunities both locally and internationally are
immense,
Author by Jack Owiti, Former Chairperson KSLIA 2006 - 2009. Interpreter, Translator and Sign Linguistics Scholar - Nairobi, Kenya
