National Assembly passes landmark Kenyan Sign Language Bill
May Allah make this Bill one that benefits the Ummah- Nominated MP Umulkheir Harun Mohamed
The National Assembly has passed the Kenyan Sign Language Bill, 2023, a landmark piece of legislation championed by Nominated MP Umulkheir Harun Mohamed that seeks to expand the rights of persons with hearing impairments and strengthen access to sign language services across education, public institutions and other sectors.
The Bill, co-sponsored by Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, provides for the recognition, regulation and promotion of Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) in schools, courts, media houses, telecommunications services and other public institutions.
The legislation seeks to formally recognize Kenyan Sign Language as a language of communication, guarantee equal access to education and public services for deaf and deafblind persons, and integrate KSL into the national education curriculum.
It also gives effect to constitutional provisions that recognize Kenyan Sign Language as an official means of communication and uphold the rights of persons with disabilities to access services through appropriate communication formats.
The Bill is expected to transform special education in Kenya by promoting inclusive learning and ensuring that members of the deaf community enjoy equal educational opportunities rather than being treated solely under separate special-needs programmes.
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Under the proposed law, Kenyan Sign Language will be integrated into early childhood and basic education curricula. Public institutions of higher learning will also be required to provide free sign language interpretation services for learners who need them.
To oversee implementation, the legislation establishes the Kenya Sign Language Council, a statutory body mandated to regulate, develop and preserve Kenyan Sign Language in the country.
The Council will be responsible for setting standards for the training and practice of sign language interpreters, registering and licensing interpreters, protecting the communication rights of deaf and deafblind persons, and advising the Government on matters relating to Kenyan Sign Language.
Nominated MP Umulkheir Harun Mohamed described the passage of the Bill as a historic milestone, saying it would promote the rights and inclusion of persons who are deaf by ensuring greater access to education, information and public services.
"Every child deserves equal access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential. May Allah make this Bill one that benefits the Ummah," she said.
Once enacted into law, the Bill is expected to significantly improve access to education, justice, information and public services for Kenya's deaf and deafblind communities while advancing the constitutional principles of equality, inclusion and non-discrimination.
