Summary
The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) audited 35 facilities in Garissa, Kitui, Kilifi, Nakuru, Isiolo, Kisumu and Nairobi City between October 2024 and May 2025. It concluded that public and private buildings widely fail to meet accessibility standards for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and persons with limited mobility.
Approach routes and entrances were mostly inaccessible or only partly accessible. Tactile walking surfaces, braille signage, accessible washrooms, marked parking and reserved spaces were rare or absent. Most service counters were too high for wheelchair users. Some facilities were positive examples, including Huduma Centres in Kitui and Nakuru, Isiolo Referral Hospital, Kisumu's Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital, though even these had gaps.
The audit followed a petition from a civil society organisation representing PWDs in Mombasa. NGEC recommends that duty bearers install compliant ramps, lifts and tactile surfaces, adjust counters and washrooms, provide parking and reserved spaces, and standardise braille signage and the International Symbol of Accessibility. It also sets out actions for the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, the National Construction Authority, county governments, the Ministry of Public Works and civil society.
Key findings
- NGEC audited 35 facilities, 21 public and 14 private, across seven counties between October 2024 and May 2025, and confirmed widespread non-compliance with accessibility standards.
- Approach routes were either inaccessible or partially accessible in most counties, for example at Garissa County Headquarters, Kitui County Survey Office, Nakuru Kenya Revenue Authority offices and Malindi Social Health Authority offices.
- Most audited facilities lacked accessible alternative entrances, while Kisumu's Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and Huduma Centre in Kisumu provided accessible alternatives.
- Tactile walking surfaces were almost absent, with isolated examples at Isiolo Governor's Office, Isiolo Referral Hospital, Kisumu's JOOTRH, Reinsurance Plaza and Kenyatta National Hospital.
- Braille and tactile signage was inadequate across nearly all counties; Kenyatta National Hospital and Mercure Hotel in Nairobi had visible signage but without braille features.
- Most service counters were set too high for wheelchair users; the report gives the recommended accessible height as 740mm to 800mm from the floor with clear knee space underneath.
- Accessible washrooms were rare: Garissa County Government offices, Malindi offices and Nakuru Law Courts lacked them, while Huduma Centre Kitui, Isiolo Referral Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital offered partial compliance.
- Reserved PWD parking and reserved waiting-area spaces were largely absent, and consistent use of the International Symbol of Accessibility was observed only at Kisumu Reinsurance Plaza, Nairobi Mercure Hotel and Kenyatta National Hospital.
Recommendations
- Building owners and managers should install compliant ramps, lifts and tactile surfaces.
- Duty bearers should adjust service counters and washrooms to meet accessibility standards.
- Public and private facilities should provide marked parking close to entrances and reserved spaces for PWDs.
- Facilities should standardise signage with braille and tactile indicators and use the International Symbol of Accessibility consistently.
- The National Council for Persons with Disabilities should develop accessibility audit guidelines, maintain a National Accessibility Registry and train disability inclusion officers.
- The National Construction Authority should make accessibility compliance a mandatory criterion for construction permits and include accessibility checks in routine inspections with penalties for violations.
- County governments should set up accessibility taskforces, audit schools, hospitals, markets and transport hubs, and allocate budget to retrofit existing buildings.
- The Ministry of Public Works should embed universal design in national building codes, ensure government buildings lead by example, develop a national accessibility audit framework and publish progress annually.
How the study was done
Data was collected through physical observation of 35 purposively sampled facilities (21 public and 14 private), using a standard monitoring tool developed by NGEC, and complemented by stakeholder consultations. Eight parameters were assessed: approach routes, alternative entrances, tactile walking surfaces, space for wheelchair and white cane users, accessible washrooms, service counters, accessible parking and signage. For signage, a facility with one or two signs was considered compliant. Each building was rated accessible, somewhat accessible or inaccessible.
Questions & answers
What did the NGEC accessibility audit find?
The National Gender and Equality Commission audited 35 public and private buildings in seven Kenyan counties and confirmed widespread non-compliance with accessibility standards. Barriers included inaccessible approach routes and entrances, minimal tactile surfaces and braille signage, unsuitable service counters and washrooms, and a lack of reserved parking and spaces for persons with disabilities.
How many buildings and which counties were audited?
NGEC audited 35 facilities, made up of 21 public and 14 private buildings, between October 2024 and May 2025. They were located in seven counties: Garissa, Kitui, Kilifi, Nakuru, Isiolo, Kisumu and Nairobi City. The buildings housed health, education, administration, governance, finance, communication and hospitality services.
Why did NGEC carry out the audit?
NGEC undertook the audit under its mandate, including Section 8(m) of the NGEC Act, which empowers it to conduct audits targeting special interest groups. It followed a petition from a civil society organisation representing persons with disabilities in Mombasa, which raised concerns about barriers to accessing public and private facilities.
What accessibility features did the audit assess?
The audit assessed approach routes, alternative entrances, tactile walking surfaces, space for wheelchair and white cane users, accessible washrooms, service counters, accessible parking and signage. It also recorded reserved spaces and use of the International Symbol of Accessibility. It was anchored on universal design, reasonable accommodation and the National Building Code (2004).
Which audited buildings performed well on accessibility?
The report names positive examples, including Huduma Centres in Kitui and Nakuru, ramps with handrails at Isiolo Governor's Office, and Isiolo Referral Hospital. Kisumu's Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital also performed well on some measures. Even these facilities had gaps, such as partial washroom compliance or missing braille.
What height should service counters be for wheelchair users?
The report gives the recommended accessible service counter height as between 740mm and 800mm from the floor, with clear knee space underneath. It found that most audited counters were set too high for wheelchair users, with positive examples at Kitui Huduma Centre, Isiolo Referral Hospital casualty area and Kisumu Law Courts.
What does NGEC recommend to improve accessibility?
NGEC recommends that owners of public and private facilities install compliant ramps, lifts and tactile surfaces, adjust counters and washrooms, provide parking and reserved spaces, and standardise braille signage and the International Symbol of Accessibility. It also assigns actions to the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, National Construction Authority, county governments and Ministry of Public Works.
What laws require buildings to be accessible in Kenya?
The report cites Article 54 of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees persons with disabilities access to public spaces, transport and information. It also cites the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Persons with Disabilities Act (2025) and the National Building Code (2004), and calls accessibility a statutory obligation.
