Are Kenya's Deaf Rights Just on Paper?
When we talk about the Deaf community, our next thought should naturally turn to sign language interpreters. They play a crucial role, ensuring that Deaf individuals can access and receive essential services.
As part of a Deaf awareness initiative, Signs TV's The Hashtag podcast speaks to a key figure in the community: Damian Evans, the Chairperson of the Kenya Sign Language Interpreters Association (KSLIA) and a veteran media interpreter with six years of experience at Standard Media.
Evans notes that Kenya has made significant strides in inclusion, with the constitution providing a strong legal foundation. Article 54 recognizes the right to sign language for the Deaf and their disability rights in general. Even more notably, Article 120 establishes Kiswahili, English, and Kenyan Sign Language as the official languages of Parliament, allowing business to be conducted in any of them.
Despite this legal framework, Evans poses a vital question: "How much of this progress have we actually implemented?" a clear gap between policy and practice.
Evans defines "sign language rights" simply as the right for Deaf people to sign. He also shares a surprising statistic that a significant 90% of Deaf children are born to hearing parents. A finding, he says, underscores the importance of introducing sign language at a family level from the earliest stages of life.
Regarding the employment of interpreters in government offices, Evans argues that it's inefficient and "awkward" to hire an interpreter to sit idle, waiting for a Deaf person to show up. He proposes a better solution of employing a Deaf person and an interpreter together.
This model, he notes, ensures that information is always accessible and that Deaf individuals can receive it directly from the source, just as their hearing peers do. His ultimate concern is that the Deaf community receives information on an equal footing, without barriers.
Watch the full story on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/j9TXkpFCkWo. Also, follow us on Facebook https://web.facebook.com/share/v/17GLn73CWQ/, or catch the repeat broadcast on Signs TV on Monday at 10 p.m.
Tags: Deaf Deaf Awareness Kenyan Sign Language Bill 2023 Kenyan Sign Language Interpreters Association Editor's Pick
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Selestine Nyongesa
An editor at Signs Tv
Experienced and versatile writer, dedicated to using my exceptional writing and editing skills to inform and advocate. My work focuses on educating and entertaining readers on a range of topics, with a particular expertise in matters of disability.
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