Kenyan motorists have been urged to be vigilant and slow down when pedestrians are crossing the roads to avoid hitting persons with visual impairment, the Kenya Union of the Blind (KUB) says it has lost many of its members through hit-and-run highway crashes.
This is even as data on the real number of people with eyesight challenges that have died on the roads due to traffic accidents.
Speaking during the unveiling of three groundbreaking initiatives aimed at enhancing the independence and safety of visually impaired people in the country, KUB Chief Executive Officer Jackson Agufana noted that although Kenya has made strides in promoting disability rights, visually impaired individuals still struggle with inaccessible public spaces and transportation systems.
Poor infrastructure
Agufana noted that road safety for white cane users is often compromised by both poor infrastructure—such as uneven sidewalks and poorly marked pedestrian crossings—and a general lack of awareness among drivers and pedestrians about the significance of the white cane.
“Many public spaces remain inaccessible, and the safety of white cane users is frequently overlooked. There is still a need for motorists and pedestrians to respect the right of visually impaired individuals to cross streets safely,” said Agufana when he unveiled the “White Cane for All” campaign that aims to raise resources that would avail and distribute 100,000 White Canes in 1,000 Days.
The other initiative unveiled includes Jisajili Ujulikane wewe ni VIP a” USSD Code: *678# to register visually impaired persons across the country in order for them to benefit from services offered by the union.
