GDS 2025 Commitments
Kenya’s Promises to the World
In April 2025, Kenya stood before the world in Berlin and made binding commitments to improve disability rights. These are the deadlines they set for themselves.
1. Education: "Differentiated Capitation"
(The Money Promise) The Commitment: Kenya committed to implementing “Differentiated Capitation” for learners with disabilities in all institutions (Primary, Secondary, TVET, and Universities).
What this means:
The government acknowledges that educating a child with a disability costs more than a standard student.
The Promise: They will provide higher funding per head for students with disabilities to cover assistive devices, specialized teachers, and support needs.
Timeline: Ongoing implementation.
2. Health: SHIF & Free Assessment
(The Health Promise) The Commitment:
SHIF Coverage: To ensure the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) covers all rehabilitative services and assistive technology (like wheelchairs and therapy) by 2027.
Free Assessment: To ensure free medical testing and assessment for disability registration, especially for children, by 2029.
No Re-Assessment: To abolish the requirement for “re-assessment” for persons with permanent disabilities.
3. Digitization: No More Paperwork
(The Tech Promise) The Commitment: To fully digitize the medical assessment process by 2029.
Why it matters: This will integrate your medical records with the NCPWD registration system automatically. No more carrying paper files between hospitals and NCPWD offices.
4. The "15% for 15%" Target
(The Big Global Goal) The Commitment: Kenya endorsed the Amman-Berlin Declaration, promising that 15% of all development cooperation programs (e.g., building new roads, water projects, agriculture) will have disability inclusion as a specific objective by 2028.
Translation: “We won’t just build a school; 15% of the planning must focus on making sure everyone can get into that school.”
5. Foster Care (Family Protection)
The Commitment: To identify and train 1,000 specialized foster carers by 2027.
Goal: To provide family-based care for children with disabilities who cannot live with their birth parents, ensuring they don’t end up in institutions.