Engaging the Young Parliamentarians in Kenya Towards a more Inclusive Kenya

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)

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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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:-

1. Kenyan people will change their attitudes towards Kenyan Sign Language and the Deaf community, Deaf culture and deafness.
2. Deaf people will have more or better access to information, education, political and socioeconomic activities or interactions.
3. Deaf people will gain more confidence in the learning process, self-expression, in communicating with hearing people and in enjoying their rights.
4. Improved quality of life for Deaf Kenyans through employment opportunities for Deaf individuals.

Fake Interpreter Lessons for Interpreters and their Clients

One Professor Graham Turner summarizes the lessons perfectly here and I would love for my Kenyan audience to read and learn some lessons that would help our own situations. I have added my own observations in italics for contextualization. 

As the world said goodbye to former South African president Nelson Mandela at the Dec. 9 memorial service, attention turned to the sign language interpreter, who was incoherently signing at the event. Immediately there was uproar from the South African Deaf and Interpreter community. Quickly the #FakeInterpreter was all over the internet with many making jokes about it, others criticizing, admonishing while other bowed in shame due to the embarrassment the episode stirred across the globe. 

It’s pretty clear that we haven’t seen the last of this story. But what is its real significance? Here are ten lessons for the world from The Tale of the Fake Interpreter.

1. Using a sign language fluently is not something one can do just by waving one’s hands around. Sign languages are grammatically-structured, rule-governed systems like all other natural human languages. You can’t produce meaningful signing off the cuff and – equally importantly – you can’t understand it spontaneously just by looking. To get the message across the signer has to be appropriately dress especially if they are on camera, the lighting, background and colors matter a lot to the recipients. The facial expressions, the body movements, hand formations (handforms, handshapes) do carry meaning too. 

2. If you can’t sign, but require interpreting, you need reliable processes to help you identify effective provision. Interpreting isn’t a game: it should be run on a professional basis. This time, we saw a spectacular insult to the world’s Deaf people: but no-one died. Worldwide, every day, the result of inadequate interpreting leads to poor schooling, imprisonment, unemployment and health disparities; inaccurate information. This has led to stereotyping in Kenya, recently I was shocked when a senior politician in reference to the Deaf said "...what will they bring to our party? they take long to express themselves.." The same can be said about the Kenyan schooling system that labels the Deaf as slow learners, under achievers thus relegating the Deaf to vocational training rather than empowering them to be the best that they can be.This must stop. 

3. Without proper training, screening and regulation, people can and will take advantage. Even in countries like the UK, where sign language interpreting has become increasingly professionalised since the 1980s, smooth operators (who can talk the talk but not sign the sign) are legion. If you can’t sign, they may appear wholly plausible and be wholly bogus. Don’t guess and you won’t be fooled. So far we in Kenya are lagging behind, we have several Sign Language trainers though it is done in a non professional coordinated way - this is despite the schooling system having Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) as a school subject and examined topic there exists a KSL curriculum, KSL exam for both primary school and O' level - these are good developments but there needs to be more efforts towards standardization of how KSL is taught and examined, a proper training system for interpreters - currently there is no proper training program for interpreters. Second to this there needs to be a screening and regulatory body for the interpreters. This development will bring about the desired professionalism so much required in this field.

4. This episode is just the high-visibility version of the con-men who pretend to be poor Deaf people in order to extort money by begging on the streets.It’s an age-old phenomenon in a new guise, taking advantage of public authorities’ need to present a politically correct face. They think they’ll get away with it because no-one who can do anything about it will notice or complain. The worst is as they say in Swahili "Asiye funzwa na mamake hufunzwa na ulimwengu"  - He who is not schooled by the mother will be schooled by the world - negative publicity not good for anyone's career.

5. They’re right: hearing people can’t tell they’re lying, and Deaf people’s complaints – about this and anything else – are too often ignored. This, too, must end. Here in Kenya we had Deaf people complain about the parliamentary proceedings interpreter. It took a while, several letters, face-to-face meetings and a collaborative effort between the KNAD, Interpreters, National broadcaster and parliament officials to resolve the issue. Today we have at least four fluent signers on the screen. As you read this there are murmurs and complaints about the KTN News interpretation. 

Hang on, though: that’s only five lessons?!

Here are five more: but beware – these are conclusions some will find easy to reach, but which should be resisted.

6. ‘Always trust Deaf people to tell you who is a good interpreter.’ Not so fast. Deaf people know fluent signing when they see it and they know who they respect and trust – and these are vital. But when it comes to recognising that someone is appropriately representing meaning, you have to be able to access both languages. You can’t tell whether output matches input unless both are available to you. 

7. ‘There’s too much to lose in booking the wrong interpreter, so let’s stop using them.’ For all the risks – and they’re very real – the life prospects of Deaf people have plainly been enhanced via good interpreting services. The Deaf Finnish leader, Liisa Kauppinen, received the 2013 United Nations Human Rights Award Prize on the day of Mandela’s memorial service: her achievements would have been impossible without top-notch interpreting. But crucially, quality counts – cosmetic interpreting that’s just for show is destructive.

8. ‘Sign language interpreters cannot be trusted’. Untrue: but not everyone who claims to be an interpreter should be taken seriously. What matters is having robust and reliable ways of distinguishing the real diamonds from the plastic forgeries.

9. ‘After this outcry, public awareness and recognition of sign languages is assured.’ Hang on! Don’t start getting complacent just yet. The sudden global focus presents a real opportunity to push home the demand for change, and to raise standards everywhere: but it won’t happen by itself. Here in Scotland, a British Sign Language Bill is due to go to Parliament in 2014 – all Scots who value signing should put their shoulders to the wheel and keep on pushing. The same is true worldwide. Here in Kenya we got our Kenyan Sign Language recognized by the new Constitution, we are yet to finalize the Language Policy...this outcry should be our stepping stone to even a stronger advocacy for greater involvement, greater participation of the Deaf Kenyans in their own affairs and those that improve the quality of life. 

10. ‘It could never happen here.’ Sadly, whilst out-and-out frauds like this may be rare, any Deaf person can tell you that there are hordes of ‘unconsciously incompetent’ signers out there making a living by accepting interpreting work that is way beyond their capability. It’s true all around the globe. What’s worse, it happens under the noses of the authorities, who pay the bills without caring enough to take responsibility for standards. We must make them care. As you may recall during the March 2013 elections the Deaf in Kenya complained of the interpreter at the election tally center however the Electoral Commission did not respond favorably, currently there are moments when Deaf people have stopped an interpreter in the middle of a session or meeting due to quality issues....my question to KTN and the rest do you care enough to stop the injustice?  

Thamsanqa Dyantyi happens to be South African, but the issues he has highlighted are global. Nelson Mandela’s death has lit an unexpected spark: and as Mandela himself said, “The time is always ripe to do right”.

My thanks and appreciation to Professor Graham Turner who is the Chair of Translation & Interpreting Studies at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. He leads the team now running the first ever degree course in BSL in Scotland.

Read more: http://limpingchicken.com/2013/12/13/10-lessons-fake-terp/#comments
http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/saturday-night-live-nelson-mandela-memorial-sign-language-interpreter-watch-the-video-20131512#ixzz2ndidTubW
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Access to information protest march by Deaf Kenyans

seven things you should know before calling the Deaf Kenyans names for protesting on the streets...

Access2InfoDemo - Deaf and KSL Users on the streets

Kenya National Association of the Deaf demonstrated outside Nation Centre on 6th February 2013, demanding all television stations should have Kenyan sign language interpretation or without that they should insert or have closed caption/sub-title of television programming, saying Deaf and hard of hearing persons are excluded from information passed through TV, and it is their right to have access to information. reported the Nation 

The association of the deaf is holding a demonstration outside the ministry of information offices demanding 24/7 sign language interpretation inserts or closed captions on all TV stations. They will later protest outside nation center demanding NTV to obey the court order given last year. the Star reported

Access2InfoDemo - City Hall Way - before stopping at the Supreme Court

Comments and Statements from journalists, readers of online blogs and social media can be found below:

Nation Website 

My Storify post (Owitie)

  

TV Caption NOW

Here are some of the issues that the journalists and critics did not tell you.

1. This is not the first time the issue of Sign Language interpretation on Kenyan media is being discussed. There have been debates about this since time in memorial - as long as Deaf Kenyans and Television have been there, there has always been a discussion on accessibility of information for persons who are Deaf or hard of hearing. In 2007 the then Assistant Minister for information Koigi wa Wamwere said " The Government has no powers to compel media houses to introduce sign language. However, it has written to all media houses and the Media Owners Association, asking them to introduce sign language in their television news casts....media houses moved to court in 2004 after the enforcement of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2003, and obtained a ruling prohibiting the Government from compelling them to introduce sign language." ( The Nation Nairobi, 14 June 2007) 

This position has been overtaken by the events of the promulgation of the new constitution of Kenya 2010. In 2010, KSL was recognized in the new constitution of Kenya as an official language of the Kenyan Parliament. This language is believed to have originated in the first deaf schools, in the early 1960s in western Kenya (Okombo & Akach 1997). The constitution states the following about Kenyan Sign Language 

The Constitution of Kenya clearly recognizes KSL as a Language; 

1. Article 120, recognizes KSL as one of the official Languages of Kenyan Parliament. 
2. Article 54(1) (d) entitles Deaf and Hard of hearing persons to use KSL while 
3. Article 7(3) (b) mandates the government to promote the use and development of KSL.

including all the other tenets that talk about equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, non-discrimination and protection of the marginalized; the use of Kenyan Sign Language is equal to the other rights - Human Rights and Rights of persons with disabilities with the limitations as  much that they are reasonable and justifiable.

Deputy PS Info, Richie, KNAD Chair at TelePosta Tower

2. There have been numerous correspondence between the Deaf Association and the ministry of information, communications commission of Kenya (CCK) and the media owners (who have ignored all letters, requests for round table talks or call/social media) There have been communications from the legal counsel representing the association of the Deaf and from Deaf individuals or groups acting on their behalf. There is even a court order on the same issue to one of the media houses (see NTV vs CRADLE) 

3. Non of the reporters will explicitly talk about this article - “Section 39 of the Persons with Disabilities Act imposes an express obligation on all persons in the position of a media house to provide access to persons with hearing disability access to the information that they impart in their television programmes,” This right is as important as the freedom of worship or owning property or using English or Kiswahili, if it takes one million signatures to call for an amendment to a clause in the constitution or call for a referendum process then Kenyan Sign Language Users are large enough to be heard and treated equally in Kenya.

at NMG tower

4. The protest was about access to public information for Deaf Kenyans/users of Kenyan Sign language. In many communities in Kenya people with disabilities are denied the right to vote and stand for election. The right to vote restricted from people without full legal capacity, yet the vast majority of people including those without verbal communication, can express an opinion with adequate support. Political disenfranchisement further increases the political invisibility of people with disabilities and their needs and concerns, and makes it easy for policy-makers to ignore their demands. 

Animated display of displeasure by SENECA Guard company refusal of entry to NMG tower

5. Kenya ratified the UN Convention on 19 May 2008. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes and secures Deaf people’s linguistic rights. The most significant achievement for Deaf people is that article 2 defines sign languages as languages, more to say, they are considered equal to spoken languages. Sign languages have complex rules of grammar and expansive vocabularies, and are comfortably capable to be used in everyday conversation, intellectual discourse, rhetoric, likewise wit, and poetry. Sign languages in each country are found to have dialects, just as spoken languages do. These rights are protected by the UN Convention by its five articles that have a direct reference to Deaf people and sign languages (See: Article 2 ; Article 9.2.e ; Article 21.b and 21.e; Article 24.3.b and 24.3.c and 24.4; Article 30.4).

getting the attention - vuvuzela, whistle, posters, flyers

6. Deaf people face many barriers when using public and private services. This is frequently due to a lack of awareness of the needs of Deaf people on the part of service providers, and insufficient communication support. Deaf people with visual impairments (for example those with Usher syndrome) or other disabilities are especially disadvantaged. Because English is often their second language, Deaf KSL users do not always have full access to written information. Service providers therefore need to use interpreters wherever necessary 

insisting to be heard, the guards said NMG - NTV director not in...increasing agitation  

7.Telecommunication service providers should review their services with emergence of KSL. Relay, Video conferencing and Multimedia services are appealing to KSL users due to the visual nature of the language. The media especially television will need to take into account the needs to use KSL interpretation professionals for its news and programs or embrace captioning and subtitling for equal accessibility.

Responsibilities of the Deaf Citizens

Learn your language, document it, teach it and use it in pride with pride. Deaf pride will be the mantra! Organize yourselves to share the rich culture, history and language. You remain as the only true ambassadors of your communities. Use the language, teach it, record it and share it on the internet, youtube, Deaftube etc are media avenues available for you.

Mr. Politician - watch this!!!

Kenyan Sign Language has gone through a historic monumental experience over the last three decades and it is with a lot of pride that the Kenya National Association of the Deaf KNAD looks back at the legacy of our forefathers, they have struggled and some have passed on without seeing the joy or benefits of their struggle to have KSL recognized, mentioned or accepted in our country. We salute men and women who since 1987 and earlier have advocated and stood their ground in making this historical moment possible. Posterity indeed will forever be grateful to the various individuals and organizations that have supported this cause.

Congrats to Nation Media group. Nation Television Managing Director finally addressed us and listen to our issues. He promised to work with KNAD and ensure we are represented in presidential debate planning process as well as having news accessible in sign language . First engagement to start this Saturday for presidential debate preparation.

Finally Mr. Linus Kaikai emerges to speak with the protesters 

Mr. Kaikai listening to complaints from Deaf Protesters

NTV'S Managing Editor Linus Kaikai (Right) addressing to demonstrators from Kenya National Association of the Deaf as they are translated in a sign language by two of their colleagues(Left and back) when they demonstrated outside Nation Centre on 6th February 2013, demanding all television stations should have Kenyan sign language interpretation or without that they should insert or have closed caption/sub-title of television programming, saying Deaf and hard of hearing persons are excluded from information passed through TV, and it is there right to have access to information. 

The Kenya National Association of the Deaf (KNAD) is a legal Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). The organization was founded and registered in 1987 with the Government of Kenya under the Societies Act of 1968 rule 4. The mission of KNAD is to advocate Human and Linguistic Rights of the Deaf Community in Kenya. KNAD membership is drawn from affiliated associations active in all the 47 Counties of Kenya.

I leave you with this message as you think about the above. President Obama's message to Kenyans (by the way on Youtube it is captioned!)

Kenyan Sign Language - Beyond Legal Recognition

Kenyan Sign Language (KSL)

It is estimated that Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) is the first and preferred language communication of between 600-800,000 Deaf people in the Kenya. The Kenyan Deaf community consists of individuals who come from ALL the 42 tribes of Kenya and are united by a common language – KSL, a shared culture, tradition and history; KSL is fundamental to their self-esteem and social well being. Deaf Kenyans regardless of tribe, gender or religion uses KSL as a medium of communication and for official transaction of business, school, religious activities and social interactions. With the promulgation of the new constitution in August of 2010, the Deaf community in Kenya have celebrated the recognition of Kenyan Sign Language in the new constitution. The official recognition of KSL brings a clear benefits to many thousands of Deaf people in terms of improved access to information and essential services. Recognition of KSL also promotes a better knowledge and understanding of the language in society as a whole and formally acknowledge the status of KSL as one of Kenya's second most widely used indigenous national languages second to Kiswahili.

 The following provisions affirms the place of Kenyan Sign Language in the Kenyan Constitution.

Chapter 2 Section 7 – National, Official and Other Languages

·         The national language of the Republic is Kiswahili.

·         The official languages of the Republic are Kiswahili and English.

·         The State shall:

·         respect, promote and protect the diversity of language of the people of Kenya.

·         The State shall promote the development and use of Kenyan Sign Language (KSL), Braille and other appropriate modes of communication for persons with disabilities.

Chapter 8 – Legislature - 120. Official Languages of Parliament

The official languages of Parliament shall be Kiswahili, English and Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) and the business of Parliament may be conducted in either English, Kiswahili and Kenyan Sign Language (KSL).

The provisions above have made it possible for the linguistic rights of the Deaf in Kenya to be guaranteed. This means that the Deaf Kenyan now has access to services such as education, interpretation, information and employment and to promote KSL and Deaf culture. Closer home these provisions have the following implications to the state, essential service providers, communities and Deaf citizens. The state shall promote, respect and develop the indigenous languages including Kenyan Sign Language. What does this mean? The state shall accord KSL the same respect to KSL that it accords to Kiswahili or English and enforce the same in the republic as long as there are users of KSL paying taxes. The State should promote promote KSL in public and private sector. In its functions and documentation it should be able to communicate its policies, proclamations and public notices in KSL. Development of KSL in higher institutions should be encouraged and nurtured. These all begins with the state taking the initiative of developing and adopting a language policy, this policy will guide the usage, research, documentation and development of all official and national languages namely Kiswahili, KSL and English.

Kenya ratified the UN Convention on 19 May 2008. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes and secures Deaf people’s linguistic rights. The most significant achievement for Deaf people is that article 2 defines sign languages as languages, more to say, they are considered equal to spoken languages. Sign languages have complex rules of grammar and expansive vocabularies, and are comfortably capable to be used in everyday conversation, intellectual discourse, rhetoric, likewise wit, and poetry. Sign languages in each country are found to have dialects, just as spoken languages do.. Our own PWD Act 2003 needs to be implemented! Deaf Kenyans have the best expertise and knowledge in the use of sign languages and they are signers or users of the language, thus, they should not be left out from any legislative process that affects their lives.

The key to the achievement of Deaf people’s basic rights is respect for the right to use sign languages. To promote this right, World Federation of the Deaf strongly encourages countries to recognise their national sign languages and Deaf people’s linguistic rights in legislation and to develop legislation to guarantee services and access to education, interpretation, information and employment for deaf citizens and to promote sign languages and Deaf culture. These rights are protected by the UN Convention by its five articles that have a direct reference to Deaf people and sign languages (See: Article 2 ; Article 9.2.e ; Article 21.b and 21.e; Article 24.3.b and 24.3.c and 24.4; Article 30.4).

Access to information and essential services

Deaf people face many barriers when using public and private services. This is frequently due to a lack of awareness of the needs of Deaf people on the part of service providers, and insufficient communication support. Deaf people with visual impairments (for example those with Usher syndrome) or other disabilities are especially disadvantaged. Essential Service Providers will have to make adjustments to be compliant and friendly to these legislative provisions. Because English is often their second language, Deaf KSL users do not always have full access to written information. Service providers therefore need to use interpreters wherever necessary and to make information available in KSL formats, for instance on video or CD-ROM.

Information, Communication and Education

In education, the use and teaching of KSL within a bilingual (KSL/English) learning environment is essential for some deaf children and adults. The early acquisition of language is vital to the learning process and for some deaf children KSL will be more accessible than spoken languages. The Framework of Action accompanying UNESCO's Salamanca Statement on Special Needs Education, to which Britain is a signatory, states that: The importance of sign language as the medium of communication among the deaf...should be recognized and provision made to ensure that all deaf persons have access to education in their national sign language. Framework for Action (1994), para 21) The United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, adopted in 1993, similarly state that: Consideration should be given to the use of sign language in the education of the deaf children, in their families and communities. Sign language interpretation services should also be provided to facilitate the communication between deaf persons and others (Rule 5, Accessibility)  However, in Kenya, educational provision for deaf children varies greatly between education authorities, with some not offering bilingual programs and very few schools or resource bases for deaf children offering any formal teaching of KSL. A lack of access to KSL learning can adversely affect the language development of some deaf children and so impede their subsequent learning. Teachers in Schools for the Deaf have no options but to be fluent in KSL and be able to teach, discuss and examine topical issues in KSL.

Most schools in Kenya have for years insisted on the oral and or total communication mode of instruction. Those advocating for mainstreaming need to understand that a mainstreamed environment means that a Deaf child in a regular school would need the teachers and classmates to be able to communicate in KSL or have competent KSL interpreters available in the school compound and classroom. Demand for KSL courses has increased dramatically in the last decade. More and more people are learning the language - more than 2000 people took basic level course in KSL since 1998. However, there is a major shortage of trained and qualified KSL tutors and assessors. There is a KSL dictionary, interactive self teaching CD, the Kenya National Examinations Council, Kenya Institute of Special/Education – KIE/KISE have in last couple of years been developing curriculum and examination materials for KSL which began to be used in 2010. The language policy, the special education policy and the special needs education policy all need to be readjusted to reiterate the emerging need to have KSL as a mode of instruction in schools for the Deaf.

With a successful educational system and foundation for Deaf children will bring about a generation of competent KSL users and bilingual Deaf citizens able to access information through KSL, English, Kiswahili and any other languages of the republic of Kenya. Television stations and the movie industry will have to invest in employing interpreters for their educational, information and communication services. The Kenyan Sign Language Interpreters Association (KSLIA) is an indigenous organization of interpreters formed to train, certify and coordinate interpreter activities in the republic. The state should allocate funds to develop and promote this profession. Closed captioning and subtitling will go a long way in improving accessibility of information to the Deaf Kenyans.

Interpretation services for the youth, young adults and the adult population users of KSL is vital at all levels of society. Higher educational facilities need to recruit and train interpretation professionals for the courses they offer. Colleges and tertiary institutions need to affirm their commitment to mainstreamed services.

Telecommunication service providers should review their services with emergence of KSL. Relay, Video conferencing and Multimedia services are appealing to KSL users due to the visual nature of the language. This of course will have an impact on the tariffs and revenues of these service providers. We do not have the space to go into the various industries – healthcare, social service, law enforcement, disaster and emergency relief services, etc It is an enormous task to connect the impact of Deafness on an individual. The diagram below will illustrate the inter-connectivity and dependency of accessibility of an individual who is Deaf.

The media especially television will need to take into account the needs to use KSL interpretation professionals for its news and programs or embrace captioning and subtitling for equal accessibility.

Impact on Communities

Parents will have to learn KSL to communicate with their children. Parents of deaf children also receive greatly varying amounts of information and training in KSL, depending on the area they live in. However, this level of support remains the exception rather than the rule. Many parents are denied the choice of a bilingual method of education for their deaf children.

Responsibilities of the Deaf Citizens

Learn your language, document it, teach it and use it in pride with pride. Deaf pride will be the mantra! Organize yourselves to share the rich culture, history and language. You remain as the only true ambassadors of your communities. Use the language, teach it, record it and share it on the internet, youtube, Deaftube etc are media avenues available for you.

Kenyan Sign Language has gone through a historic monumental experience over the last three decades and it is with a lot of pride that the Kenya National Association of the Deaf KNAD looks back at the legacy of our forefathers, they have struggled and some have passed on without seeing the joy or benefits of their struggle to have KSL recognized, mentioned or accepted in our country. We salute men and women who since 1987 and earlier have advocated and stood their ground in making this historical moment possible. Posterity indeed will forever be grateful to the various individuals and organizations that have supported this cause. We thank the Kenyan Deaf community and KSL users allover the country for the support, letters, comments and views you all shared with the Constitutional Review Committees, without you KNAD has no voice. KNAD would like to thank the Government of Kenya especially the Ministries of Gender and Social Service, the Ministries of Youth and Sports, Education, Office of the Attorney General, the Committee of Experts, University of Nairobi – Linguistics Department; World Federation of the Deaf who supported the petition to have KSL recognized in the new constitution.

The Kenya National Association of the Deaf (KNAD) is a legal Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). The organization was founded and registered in 1987 with the Government of Kenya under the Societies Act of 1968 rule 4. The mission of KNAD is to advocate Human and Linguistic Rights of the Deaf Community in Kenya. KNAD membership is drawn from affiliated associations active in all the  47 Counties of Kenya.

Issues and Recommendations for Interpreters in Kenya

On my series of talks to upcoming interpreters, I was asked to talk about interpreting in Kenya...

Who is an Interpreter?

Interpreters in Kenya are individuals with good language skills, good relationship with their clients and who have learned how to interpret from one language to another. Many interpreters learn their skills in practical settings, they are usually unpaid volunteers.

Foundations of Interpreting

Interpreting is a relationship, it is a matter of faith and trust.

Language of Interpreters

Interpreting does not have to be word-for-word. It is more important to get the meaning of the message. It is important for the interpreter to understand the language, culture and trends in the cultures represented. 

Recognition of the Interpreters

Recognition should not depend on the level of education and other qualifications but on the language skills and the persons themselves. It is important to note that professional interpreters and 'local' interpreters should have the same recognition when they do the same type of work. - For instance a village chief my get a n official recognition for function as a justice of peace though he may not have studied law.

Interpreter Training

It is always good to get more training.

As an interpreter it is good to keep learning the language, new fields, vocabulary, develop skills on language and culture. Deaf Association, language schools are a great resource for learning.

Ethics of Interpreting - road to professionalism 

Read more here - Code of Ethics

It is also important to have a professional association of interpreters - Most countries in the world today do not have a National Association of sign language interpreters. Following the very successful first WASLI conference in South Africa in 2005, many countries are now discussing the idea of establishing a national association in their own country.

Those are some of the issues and recommendations for interpreters in Kenya or those aspiring to be come interpreters.

Thanks to WASLI, KSLIA, HLID

Armchair Critic's View: The Case of Television Programs Interpreting

Armchair Critic's View: The Case of Television Programs Interpreting 

Television program interpreting is among the oldest and most 'professional' forms of Sign-Voice interpretation in Kenya. It is probably second to church service interpreting. For those who remember programs like Joy Bringers - it had two or three interpreters in the tiny box to the right bottom of the screen. The parliamentary debates have been the longest televised interpretation for the Deaf in Kenya. This too has gone through a lot of transitions and changes with various interpreters offering their services. I almost forgot the Sign News by KTN in the late 90s - it was a welcome relief to have news round up followed by the language lessons. KBC crowned it all with the Kiswahili Kitukuzwe show that had some Kenyan Sign Language to it.

Those were the days.

Then come the UNDP, Ford Foundation, Uraia sponsored talk shows - Agenda Kenya and the likes. It is almost impossible to think about interpreting on television without thinking about Agenda Kenya. Many programs have tried to emulate the good small box used by KBC for the interpreter and it almost seems to be the standard even in this digital age. 

One of the greatest challenges for television program interpreting is the restrictive small box. Many of the editors I have talked with seem to think that it is the standard and would not think of the strain for the viewer. Others do not care they do willing ling splash the text over the interpreters' face and rarely pay attention to the rule of captioning.

For the interpreter many time you are alone with at least two to three people speaking at the same time. Worse so when they decide to air music - one of the hardest things to interpret while seated is music and many broadcasters do not realize that it is virtually impossible to do strapped in a studio chair with lighting and heat.

There is never a moment to get the scripts in time for the interpreter to gloss through and many time you are closed up in a small room boiling from the lighting, trying to battle claustrophobic thoughts. The few media professionals who understand translations and interpreting challenges will look out for your good and make some adjustments.  

With this background I wish to point out several key notes for any interpreter, broadcaster and media houses  that would help them become better service providers.

Interpreter

1. Request for a contract, read, understand and sign it, know your roles and responsibility - just as the the anchor, editor, reporters have distinct job description so the Interpreter should have a signed contract.
2. Get the script of the program, questions, comments, names of guests and topics of interest about the program you are about to interpret. Ask, Insist and Obtain these from the producer of the program.
3. Negotiate your pay before your sit in front of the camera. Any discussions after the recording will not be to your advantage.
4. Wear comfortable, appropriate clothes, jewelry and work with the make up artists - forget the flashy anchor they only sit and talk, you will move a lot, you will sweat, you will be thirsty do not let anyone else determine for you the comfort you need to do your job.
5. Know your content - practice names, places, events as you get your script familiarize yourself with themes in the program.
6. Get a bottle of cold water - yes they will say no food and drink to the studio, insist it is good for you to have it. If not the producer will have to deal with a fainting interpreter which is not good for the show. Be gentle but firm.
7. Work in teams of two or more. It is standard practice to have at least two interpreters to work in intervals of 15-20 minutes on tasks that are 2 hours or more. This enables the interpreters to refresh, to provide quality and for health reasons - your brain does not concentrate interpreting for long periods maximum 30 minutes and fatigue, misinterpretation and blank mind syndrome kicks in and you are done. Give each other feedback - debrief before and after sessions.
8. It is appropriate for a balance of male/female balance in interpreting settings where the speakers are varied. For instance for the best fit and match for a male president would be a male interpreter same for a female minister would be best interpreted for by a female interpreter - this carries the spirit and heart of the message. It is however never possible in real life - as it is we have more female interpreters than male ones. 
9. Know your code of ethics and practice it. Remember the basics - keep time, dress, diligence, keep secrets, forget as soon as you interpret resolve conflicts as soon as possible and your client is King/Queen.
10. Keep learning. Read, watch, hear and learn accents, technology, acronyms, jargon, politics, religion, law, business, current affairs....

Broadcaster and Media House

1. Develop and follow your policy on contracting interpreters. Contracts, rates, taxes, insurance, fees etc should never be a surprise. 
2. Read and be familiar with the PWD Act 2003 the revised and current provisions, clauses on disability in the bill of rights.
3. Your clients are key consumers of your service - listen to their feedback and meet expectations.
4. Verify your pick of interpreter(s) work with the Kenya National Association of the Deaf, Kenyan Sign Language Interpreters Association, Kenya Sign Language Research Project to vet, 'qualify' your selection, to provide quality checks and feedback.
5. Know that Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) is a language with its own syntax, grammar and phonology. Beware of interpreters using foreign signed languages, signed exact English or word for word renditions. Refer to 4 above for guidance.
6. Break from tradition - empower your editors and producers to allow for the interpreter to be visible bigger, clearer each time on the screen. The tiny box is restrictive and old. Technology has given ability to split screens, cue and Tx works better now than they did 10 years ago. Do not cover the interpreter with text, if using closed captioning make it clear and readable. FYI most (Deaf) children learn English and other languages better as they see it over and over again and can associate the words and the images thus you achieve two goals inform and educate at  the same time.
7. Work with the interpreter during the editing process. Enable your editors to know when to insert adverts, scrolling texts, transitions etc 
8.  Encourage feedback on interpretation services - criticism, comments and recommendations make  television programs better and accessible.
9. Employ a multi discipline interpreter (s) for the media house if possible - it is rare to find an interpreter who is able to interpret medical, legal and religious interpreting all in one person most interpreters are comfortable in two or three settings or fields. Just as you have political editors, medical journalists, legal or medical reporters interpreters too have a specialization.
10. ASK ask ask ask the consumer, the interpreters when stuck. 

In Kenya interpreters are often, in many cases volunteers, family members or social workers or even teachers who at a certain level have mastered some sign language and have found themselves in an interpreting situation. Using my own example and experience - I began interpreting as a volunteer at a church then slowly I transitioned into a professional interpreter with a lot of peer education and exchange, self learning and support from a few Deaf friends. 

Interpreter Services in Kenya - A Critical Analysis of Interpreter Services for the Deaf in Kenya

Interpreter Services in Kenya - A Critical Analysis of Interpreter Services for the Deaf in Kenya

"....the Deaf in Kenya are ‘a special linguistic minority….special because (the approximately 700-800,000 Deaf Kenyans) by nature of their disability cannot operate effectively in any of the spoken majority languages (English and Kiswahili)’.  This predicament brings us to the whys of the clamor for recognition of the language and thereby ‘legalization’ and use of KSL." Professor Okoth Okombo of the University of Nairobi linguistics department 

On behalf of the Deaf community in Kenya, the Kenya National Association of the Deaf – KNAD – a non-governmental organization registered in 1987 with the government of Kenya under the Registrar of Societies Act of 1968 rule 4 representing approximately 600-800,000 Deaf people in Kenya; I address this topic wearing three hats as a Hearing Kenyan, Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) User and finally as an Interpreter. These three qualifications among others gives me enough reference point and authority to speak on this issue.

It is estimated that Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) is the first and preferred language of between 700-800,000 people in the Kenya. The Kenyan Deaf community consists of individuals who come from ALL the 42 tribes of Kenya and are united by a common language – KSL, a shared culture, tradition and history; KSL is fundamental to their self-esteem and social well being. Deaf Kenyans regardless of tribe, gender or religion uses KSL as a medium of communication and for official transaction of business, school, religious activities and social interactions. KNAD believes that official recognition of KSL would bring clear benefits to many thousands of Deaf people in terms of improved access to information and essential services. 

As a country we have already made a significant commitment to protect the rights and improve services of the Kenyan Deaf people by the enactment of the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2003, Kenya has also ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 18^th May 2008. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes and secures Deaf people’s linguistic rights. The most significant achievement for Deaf people is that article 2 which defines sign languages as national languages, more to say, they are considered equal to spoken national languages. The key to the achievement of Deaf people’s basic rights in Kenya is to respect the right to use Kenyan Sign Language.

I strongly believes that recognition of Kenyan Sign Language in the new Constitution, under the following articles 

Article 7(b) the state shall promote the development and use of indigenous languages, Kenyan Sign language, Braille and other communication formats and technologies accessible to persons with disabilities. 

Article 27

(4) The State shall not discriminate directly or indirectly against any person on any ground, including race, sex, pregnancy, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, colour, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, dress, language or birth.

Article 44

(1) Every person has the right to use the language, and to participate in the cultural life, of the person’s choice.

(2) A person belonging to a cultural or linguistic community has the right, with other members of that community--

(a) to enjoy the person’s culture and use the person’s language; or

(b) to form, join and maintain cultural and linguistic associations and other organs of civil society.

Article 49

(1) An arrested person has the right--

(a) to be informed promptly, in language that the person understands, of--

(i) the reason for the arrest;

(ii) the right to remain silent; and

(iii) the consequences of not remaining silent.

(c) to communicate with an advocate, and other persons whose assistance is necessary;

Article 50

(2) Every accused person has the right to a fair trial, which includes the right--

(m) to have the assistance of an interpreter without payment if the accused person cannot understand the language used at the trial.

(3) If this Article requires information to be given to a person, the information shall be given in language that the person understands.

(7) In the interest of justice, a court may allow an intermediary to assist a complainant or an accused person to communicate with the court.

Article 54

(1) A person with any disability is entitled--

(a) to be treated with dignity and respect and to be addressed and referred to in a manner that is not demeaning;

(b) to access educational institutions and facilities for persons with disabilities that are integrated into society to the extent compatible with the interests of the person;

(c) to reasonable access to all places, public transport and information;

(d) to use Sign language, Braille or other appropriate means of communication; and

(e) to access materials and devices to overcome constraints arising from the person’s disability.

(2) The State shall ensure the progressive implementation of the principle that at least five percent of the members of the public in elective and appointive bodies are persons with disabilities.

Article 56

The State shall put in place affirmative action programs designed to ensure that minorities and marginalized groups--

(d) develop their cultural values, languages and practices

Article 120

(1) The official languages of Parliament shall be Kiswahili, English and Kenyan Sign language, and the business of Parliament may be conducted in English, Kiswahili and Kenyan Sign language.

(2) In case of a conflict between different language versions of an Act of Parliament, the version signed by the President shall prevail.

Article 259

(2) If there is a conflict between different language versions of this Constitution, the English language version prevails. 

specifying it as one of the national and official languages to which 700 – 800,000 Kenyans use in their everyday lives in their homes, churches, mosques, schools, in commerce, in courts, meetings, social events and official business it will uphold our national values and principles of Chapter 3 of the draft will promote the participation of the Kenyan Deaf people in public affairs, to share in the devolution of power and ensuring full participation of the Deaf - men, women, youth and children persons with disabilities, a marginalized  socio-linguistic minority community in the political, social and economic life of the nation of Kenya. 

With these developments demand for qualified Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) interpreters is rapidly growing and is impacting the deaf community. Current indications are that Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) will be the new emerging language in Kenya. The new constitution  gives KSL preeminence on the clauses addressing issues of persons with disabilities as a language of communication for the Deaf in Kenya. The Kenya National Examination Council in January 2010 issued a circular making KSL an examinable subject in equal stature with English and Kiswahili. There is also an increasing number of students in Tertiary and Universities requiring the services of qualified, certified and competent interpreters. Kenya and the region is also budding with international conferences and forums involving the Deaf citizens thus widening the opportunities for interpreters.

Current training programs are unable to keep up with the increased demand for highly-trained interpreters with a nationwide interpreter shortage as the result. The Kenyan Sign Language Interpreters Association (KSLIA), the national professional associations of sign language interpreters, Kenya National Association of the Deaf – KNAD, Global Deaf Connections and the Ministry of Education have also recognized the insufficient numbers of interpreters available to meet the market’s demand. The issues identified have been the lack of interpreter training programs, although some colleges, universities and private companies with interpreter training programs are aware of the need for improved quality and availability of training, many are simply unaware of the extent of the interpreter shortage in the community.

The Deaf Aid project Kenya Registry of Interpreters and Transliterates for the Deaf (KRITD) in its white paper declared a “national interpreter crisis in the quantity, quality and qualifications of interpreters.” This white paper identifies how stakeholders can collaborate to marshal resources to increase and improve interpreter training programs to help meet the urgent demand to train larger numbers of new interpreters and upgrade the qualifications of existing interpreters. The Persons with Disabilities Act (PWD Act 2003) requires public institutions to provide “qualified readers or interpreters and other similar accommodations for individuals with disabilities” The major need is in public schools and higher education, but health care providers, hospitals, courts, public safety and other government offices are also seeing increased demand.

Simultaneously, Deaf consumers of interpreting services have become more informed and are demanding higher quality interpreting services that meet their individual needs. Consumers and consumer organizations have expressed interest in being substantively involved in the identification, development, and delivery of the educational opportunities provided through these proposed areas of intervention. 

In order to train qualified interpreters to better meet the demand from consumers and consumer organizations, interpreter educators must be sufficient in number and be knowledgeable of current best practices. I suggest that the interpreter community in Kenya needs to embrace a three Cs that would change this profession.

1. Certification - the need to transform the learning methodology of interpreters. Currently any otieno, kariuki, musyoki, njeri, kalekye and nasimuyu goes into a church for the Deaf, school or a local training program and by three months they are declared a trained interpreter after learning basic sign language. There is more to learning a language than a 3 month course on vocabulary, signs and finger spelling. The Kenya Sign Language Research Project at the University of Nairobi needs to be transformed into a Deaf Studies Institute or its slumbering sister the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) could pick up that role. There is a curriculum at Kenya Institute of Education (KIE), there are examining bodies and quality assurance standards worldwide that can ensure we have professionals in this field. Teachers, Plumbers, Lawyers, Accountants etc have certification processes that qualify one to be in the cohort. Interpreters have no other option - get trained, get certified. I have held the position that we need to take the KIE curriculum, train an initial Core Trainers, Replicate this over the 47 Counties and develop a certification program through the various levels of tertiary education - certificates, diplomas and degrees. However since our academicians respect degrees and schools KNAD would partner with various universities to offer training for Deaf Studies, Deaf Education, Interpreting and Linguistics. 
2. Continuing Education - Skill upgrade is important it is a core component of 1 above. 
3. Conflict Resolution - KNAD (the Deaf) KSLIA (Interpreters) and Government of Kenya (public) would have a forum to deal with professional tort issues with this third pillar. Since human interpretation will never be perfect and standardized there are ethical issues to be considered in this consumer/service provider dispute resolution mechanism.

To address these issues and to contribute toward the education and training of a sufficient number of qualified interpreters to meet the communications needs of individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and individuals who are Deaf-blind, there needs to be a move to provide legislation in the form of a Kenya Sign Language Bill or Kenya Language policy that will govern the issues described above. Since these are a far off, in the immediate future the three Cs remain a good foundation for KNAD, KSLIA and other stakeholders need to critically think about.

As we debate the almost 800,000 Deaf Kenyans go about life not fully getting the information about  voter registration, insecurity in Baragoi/Tana Delta or a lecture at the university hall or classroom or during the 9 o'clock bulletin - you may ask but they could read the papers? due to the poor quality of teaching methods in the schools for the Deaf literacy remain low. That is a discussion for another day - however it touches heavily on the access to information to persons with disabilities and the Deaf are not the only ones affected. 

the best languages for passing on information in Kenya include not only the official and national languages but also the various indigenous languages, braille for the blind and sign language for the Deaf. Okombo 2001