Pressure mounts on State to enforce disability law as Asige demands action
By Faith Lagat, February 20, 2026Nominated Senator Crystal Asige has intensified calls for the government to operationalise the Persons With Disabilities Act 2025, warning that nearly a year after its enactment, persons with disabilities continue to miss out on key benefits due to delayed regulations.
Speaking during Senate proceedings on Thursday, February 20, 2026, the visually impaired lawmaker addressed President William Ruto, urging immediate action on what she described as “low-hanging fruit” that has been left unimplemented.
“Mr. President @WilliamRuto, allow me to re-emphasise one such idea the Persons With Disabilities Act 2025. It has been law for almost a year and is yet to be operationalised,” Asige stated in a post on X accompanying video footage of her Senate address.
“Delayed formulation of regulations means people with disabilities, their parents, and caregivers are yet to benefit from this Act. Despite countless efforts, no one is sharing clear information, political goodwill seems to be lost,” she added.
In her remarks, the senator also stated: “Sisi ni walemavu lakini kura zetu hazina ulemavu” – translating to “We are disabled, but our votes are not disabled.”
Implementation delays stall benefits
The Persons With Disabilities Act, 2025 (No. 4 of 2025), signed into law last year and formally commenced in late May 2025, introduced reforms aimed at strengthening Kenya’s disability framework.
The law restructures the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, assigns duties to public institutions to promote inclusion, and provides incentives such as tax exemptions while enhancing protections for accessible public services and infrastructure.
However, the absence of accompanying regulations has delayed implementation, leaving provisions on inclusive education, employment quotas, and accessible infrastructure yet to take effect.
Advocacy beyond parliament
Asige has also engaged stakeholders outside Parliament to promote awareness and implementation of the law.
In September 2025, she visited Mombasa County and worked with organisations under the Coast Rights umbrella to discuss the Act and gather feedback from persons with disabilities.
“Implementation begins with awareness, and awareness begins with sensitisation,” she said at the time. Similar engagements have involved the Judiciary and planned consultations with the Executive to promote digital accessibility across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
The senator has also sponsored related legislative proposals, including the Kenya Sign Language Bill, the Learners with Disabilities Bill, the Startup Bill, and amendments to transport laws aimed at improving accessibility.
The call for operationalisation of the Act comes as stakeholders continue to await gazettement of regulations required to implement the law’s provisions.