STATEMENT DURING THE COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGES

The National Gender and Equality Commission joins the global community in celebrating International Day of Sign Languages. The day, marked annually on September 23, is set aside to honour the profound role of sign languages in fostering inclusion, equity, and connection. This year’s theme, “Sign Language Unites Us,” serves as a powerful reminder that sign languages are more than tools for communication. They are bridges that connect people, cultures, and communities across every border.

Sign languages connect families and societies by breaking down communication barriers, promoting accessibility, and amplifying the voices of those often sidelined. The theme encourages all to recognise the power of fostering understanding and creating a truly inclusive society where no one is left behind in pursuit of a just and equitable world.

Sign languages are a full and natural means of human expression, enabling millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to participate fully in society. They carry the history, traditions, and values of the communities that use them, while also opening doors for inclusion, equality, and mutual respect.

Kenya has a significant population of the Deaf community, estimated at 11.4% of the 1,346,110 persons with disabilities. Kenya has made strides in ensuring the inclusion of the Deaf community in all spheres of life. The National Gender and Equality Commission celebrates these steps which include the recognition of Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) as an official language in the Constitution of Kenya (2010), the enactment of the Kenyan Sign Language Act, 2022 and the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025 which explicitly recognizes “communication” to include languages, display of text, Braille, tactile communication, signs, large print, accessible multimedia and augmentative formats. However, we must now move from legal recognition to tangible implementation. Justice is achieved when the Deaf community has access to public services, quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities on an equal basis with others, through the seamless provision of sign language services.

The Commission acknowledges that early access to sign language education and services is vital for the growth of the Deaf community and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, especially those linked to inclusive education (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG 5). In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, we urge the government, educators, employers, healthcare providers, and media to incorporate Kenyan Sign Language interpretation into public services, schools, workplaces, and digital platforms. Investing in sign language training for interpreters and including it in teacher education programmes will not only protect linguistic rights but also enable deaf individuals, particularly women and young people, to engage fully in economic, social, and political spheres.

The Commission urges all stakeholders to prioritise policies that protect and promote sign languages as official tools for inclusion. We commend ongoing efforts, such as the inclusion of KSL in the national curriculum, and advocate for increased funding to support deaf-led organisations and initiatives. Today, let us unite through meaningful actions, including advocating for accessible communication and policies that recognise sign languages as official languages in our nation.

The Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing gender equality, combating discrimination, and advocating for the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), including the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Importantly, sign language unites us, not just in understanding, but in building a Kenya where equality is a lived reality for every citizen, regardless of gender, disability, or background.

Happy International Day of Sign Languages

Hon. Rehema Jaldesa

CHAIRPERSON