EVs and AI Pose New Threats to PWD Safety and Employment
Featured Updated: 05 November 2025 17:08 EAT
The push for a greener and more digitized future, while promising, is creating urgent new safety and employment challenges for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Lawrence Momanyi of the Kenya Society for the Blind, while appearing on the Signs TV Breakfast Show, sounded an alarm, cautioning that technologies meant to assist PWDs are now presenting significant risks.
According to Mr. Momanyi, the core problem with Electric Automobiles (EVs) and motorbikes is their quiet operation at low speeds.
He says for pedestrians with visual disabilities, who rely heavily on the sound of an approaching engine, the roar, noise, or vibration, to safely navigate the roads, this silence removes a critical auditory cue, which makes it impossible for such pedestrians who are cane users to detect an approaching vehicle until it is dangerously close in areas like crosswalks and parking lots.
Momanyi strongly encourages the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to prioritize PWD safety by mandating Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) that operate automatically and independently of the driver.
Beyond the road, Momanyi points to two serious concerns regarding the increased reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation. While tools like voice-activated AI are valuable assistive devices, he cautions that AI is not always accurate and its reliance carries a risk of exposure to flawed data.
A more significant threat is that AI might become an easy replacement for PWDs in the workplace. Momanyi fears that many companies will opt for automated systems rather than incur the costs and effort of creating truly inclusive physical workspaces, such as installing ramps or hiring sign language interpreters, leading to job displacement.
Momanyi’s call for action aligns with the spirit of the new Persons with Disabilities Act (2025), which aims to enforce a 5% employment quota for PWDs and mandates reasonable accommodation for employees.
Tags: Kenya Society For The Blind Signs Media Kenya Limited Signstvkenya
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Selestine Nyongesa
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.