KEPSA in partnership with Light for the World hosted the inaugural Private Sector celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 2nd December 2022 at Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel, Nairobi. The theme for the event, which is celebrated worldwide on 3rd December, was 'Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world'.

KEPSA was led by the Chairperson Ms Flora Mutahi; KEPSA Directors, Ms Eva Muraya and Ms Catherine Musakali; Gender Sector Board leadership led by Chair, Ms Mucha Mlingo and Vice-Chair, Ms Mercy Okiro. Also present included Mr Dickson MacAger Oruko from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection; Light for the World Country Director, Mr Stephen Njenga; Former Senator, Hon. Isaac Mwaura; KEPSA Labour Sector Chair and Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) Immediate Past President, Mr Mark Obuya; Founder of Riziki Source, Mr Fredrick Ouko among many other stakeholders.

In her opening remarks, Ms Flora Mutahi highlighted the role that KEPSA plays in advocating for an enabling business environment and supporting policies for all enterprises in the country, including those owned by women, youth, and people with disabilities. She noted that KEPSA was at the forefront of championing the formulation of the Public Procurement and Disposal (Preference and Reservations) Regulations, 2011, and continues to advocate for both public and private enterprises to follow them. She stated that the latest Board Diversity and Inclusion Survey report by KEPSA, Kenya Institute of Management (KIM), Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE), and New Faces New Voices (NFNV) revealed the existence of no distinctive data on disability representation, with negligible representation recorded in Kenyan boardrooms.

Ms Mutahi challenged the county and national government to ensure responsive budgeting and responsive resource allocation to provide support to individuals with disabilities for services that benefit them. She further called upon the private sector to implement deliberate policy measures to mainstream disability in their programs, such as ensuring workforce inclusion and creating disability-friendly work environments.

Light for the World Country Director, Mr Stephen Njenga presented a business case for inclusion by highlighting some of the barriers to inclusion such as insufficient capital to engage with the tender opportunities under AGPO, inadequate access to information and feedback mechanisms, lack of equitable access to tender opportunities, and perceptions of the capacity of persons with disabilities, attitudinal barriers. The business case highlighted increased innovation, improved shareholder value, improved productivity, access to the supplier ecosystem, improved market share, and enhanced reputation as ways in which Persons with Disabilities can make a difference. To build an inclusive workplace, employers were urged to employ, enable, engage, and empower Persons with Disabilities.

The event featured a panel discussion that was moderated by Ms Mucha Mlingo and included Hon. Dr Imaana Laibuta - Court of Appeal Judge; Ms Grace Mwihaki, a Microentrepreneur with a disability; Mr Hassan Harun, CEO at National Council for Persons with Disabilities; and Ms Iram Bahawal, Gender Officer at Light for the World. The panellists shared their reflections and experiences on challenges, solutions and best practices in the world of employment and entrepreneurship. Justice Laibuta on his part delivered a commitment note on the inclusive justice system from the Hon. Lady Justice, Martha K. Koome, Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya.

Representing the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Services, Mr Dickson MacAger Oruko, reiterated the commitment to disability inclusion and enhancement of accessibility for persons with disabilities in all spheres of the societal existence through putting in place policies and measures that foster their inclusion in the national development thus leaving no-one-behind as premised in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He further mentioned that the National Council for Persons with Disabilities has developed a new registration system to provide adequate social economic data critical for pollical development, planning and allocation of resources.

Disability advocate and former Senator, Hon. Isaac Mwaura stressed the need for holistic support and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the employment ecosystem as well as the need to demystify the negative perception around Persons with Disabilities.

Mr Mark Obuya challenged the human resources practitioners in the business community to change their mindsets to develop and implement policies that are friendly to Persons with Disabilities to contribute to the realization of the constitutional requirement under Article 54 of the Bill of Rights. He further urged the private and public sectors to ensure the progressive inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in employment through accessible materials and infrastructure.

Ms Eva Muraya led the 'Call to Commitment' towards disability inclusion. She highlighted the recently launched Private Sector Gender Mainstreaming Policy as a critical anchor in the journey of achieving Disability Mainstreaming in the Private Sector. Among the organizations that signed the Commitment of Disability Inclusion included; KEPSA, Technoserve, Safaricom PLC, Standard Chartered PLC, Kenya Airways, Housing Finance Society of Kenya, University of Nairobi, East African Breweries PLC, Bamburi Cement Limited, Kenya Bankers Association, inABLE and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.