Crystal Asige intensifies push for an overhaul of govt operations
By Joel Masibo, September 2, 2025Nominated Senator Crystal Asige has renewed her push for the implementation of the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Act 2025, insisting that implementing the Act starts with awareness and targeted sensitisation of institutions that deliver services to Kenyans.
Having just briefed the Judiciary on the new law, Senator Asige has confirmed to engage the Executive this week, aiming to work with partners while pushing for digital accessibility across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
”Implementation begins with awareness, and awareness begins with sensitisation. After sensitising the Judiciary last week on the new Persons With Disabilities Act, 2025, this week I join the Executive arm of Government on how to implement digital accessibility across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.” Crystal Asige took to her X account on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
The Persons With Disabilities Act, 2025 (No. 4 of 2025) is the long-awaited update to Kenya’s disability framework. It was signed into law earlier this year and formally brought into force in late May 2025. The Act rewrites parts of the country’s institutional architecture for disability rights: it restructures the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, spells out duties for public bodies, strengthens monitoring mechanisms, and introduces incentives and protections meant to make public services and spaces more inclusive.
Essence of PWD Act 2025
A key part of Senator Asige’s implementation push is digital accessibility. The Act gives teeth to constitutional promises of inclusion by obliging public institutions to make their services accessible, and in today’s governance, that means online services, portals, e-citizen platforms, court e-filing systems, procurement portals and the like must be usable by people with disabilities.
According to Asige, she is working with the UK-funded Digital Access Programme (DAP) and disability organisations, including the Kenya Society for the Blind to build capacity and run Digital Accessibility Maturity Assessments for MDAs.
”Together with partners under the UK Digital Access Programme and the Kenya Society for the Blind, we are working to ensure the Executive plays its role in implementing the Act by becoming more accessible and inclusive themselves. Inclusion in Kenya is no longer an option.” Her statement added.
The Persons With Disabilities Act 2025 makes accessibility a legal duty for all arms of government