Access to Information and Inclusive Digital Services as a Human Right
Access to information is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution of Kenya. At the global level, the United Nations recognises access to the internet as a human right due to its role in enabling education, participation, and access to essential services. Despite this, persons with disabilities in pastoralist regions continue to face systemic exclusion from digital and public information systems.
Grassroots Disability Agenda’s Access Is a Right focus area addresses these gaps by advocating for inclusive internet access and accessible digital technologies. GDA engages government institutions, county administrations, and other service providers to promote disability-inclusive digital systems that work for everyone.
A key concern is access to government platforms such as websites and e-government services, including E-Citizen. Many of these platforms remain inaccessible to persons with disabilities due to poor design, lack of assistive compatibility, and absence of easy-to-read formats. This exclusion limits access to healthcare, social protection, identification services, and civic participation.
GDA’s advocacy highlights the need for accessible technologies that consider diverse disabilities, including visual, hearing, physical, and cognitive impairments. By promoting inclusive design, the organisation seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities can independently access information, services, and opportunities.
The adoption of Kenya’s National Disability Policy and the enactment of the Persons with Disabilities Act (2025) mark a significant shift in the operating context. Notably, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) is now empowered to issue adjustment orders to organisations that fail to meet accessibility standards. This development strengthens accountability and creates new opportunities to advance digital inclusion.
Through sustained advocacy, research, and partnerships, GDA continues to position access to information not as a privilege, but as a right essential to dignity, equality, and participation.
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