Nominated MP Umulkheir Umi has reintroduced the Kenyan Sign Language Bill at the National Assembly. The bill, which was first proposed in 2020 by senators Gertrude Museruve and Margaret Kamar, seeks to make Kenyan Sign Language a compulsory subject in secondary schools and to promote its use in all public and private institutions.
The bill seeks to provide for the recognition, promotion, development, and use of Kenyan sign language.
According to the draft, the Bill is in line with provisions of the Constitution regarding the rights of persons with disabilities particularly, Article 54 and 56 which mandates the State to put in place measures for the promotion of the rights of marginalized communities including persons with disabilities.
The first segment of the bill addresses incorporating sign language into the education system and making it compulsory.
According to Nominated MP Umi, Kenyans need to learn basic sign language from an early age.
The legislator says currently 5 percent of the population, which is about 2.7 million people are Deaf hence implementing the Kenyan Sign Language Bill 2023 will be a great achievement that will give the Deaf an equal opportunity as the hearing population.
Regarding sign language interpreters, who are champions of inclusion and access, the legislator proposed that they be deployed in courts, government offices, and schools, as well as other key places where the Deaf have access.
While speaking to a local media Umi said a Kenya Sign Language Council should also be established in a bid to regulate the use of sign language.
This, she added will help weed out quack interpreters and address concerns on interpretation and training facilities, ensuring that only qualified individuals provide sign language interpretation services.
The council will also be required to ensure that all sign language interpreters are licensed and pay a registration fee that will be used for the day-to-day running of the council and its operations.
Telecommunications companies are also part of the proposals in the bill, where the MP says they should ensure their services are suitable for the Deaf and should also provide a subsidy for affordable and efficient communication for the Deaf.
The bill also targets the Education Ministry, requiring the Cabinet Secretary to determine the education, training, and qualifications required for registration as a Kenyan sign language interpreter, as well as establishing and maintaining a register of Kenyan sign language interpreters.
On the new curriculum, Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), the lawmaker recommends that every county should have at least one special needs school, but not in the bill.