Before you vote: the truth about MPs with disabilities

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich reads the 2017/2018 budget speech at Parliament Buildings on March 30, 2017.PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

“… we will produce the first people with disability who will win elective seats,” - Aden Duale on May 6,2017 at Bomas of Kenya.

Has a person with a disability ever been elected to Parliament?

Contrary to Mr Duale’s assertion, there is already a serving elected MP with a disability, Mr Timothy Wanyonyi of Westlands who was elected under an ODM ticket in 2013.

Also Mr Sammy Leshore, the Senator for Samburu County, who was re-elected in 2013, uses a wheelchair after surviving a gun attack.

Although they were not elected, there are other leaders with disability who have served in the National Assembly. Ms Josephine Sinyo was nominated in 1998 by Safina, becoming the first blind Member of Parliament.

Linet Kemunto Nyakeriga, who is blind served as a Senator, nominated by The National Alliance (TNA) to represent persons with disabilities, along with Harun Kipchumba of ODM, until 2013. They were replaced by Senators Godliva Omondi and Ben Njoroge.

Other serving nominated members of Parliament representing people with disabilities Isaac Mwaura who has albinism, and Janet Teiyaa.

So Mr Duale is not correct in predicting that Jubilee will sponsor the first candidate with a disability to win an elective seat.