INTRODUCTION

Historically, many persons with disabilities have been excluded from exercising their human rights, including the right to political participation. It is in this regard that UDPK has been involved in various Democracy related projects and participation in different political processes with an overwhelming idea that ,Persons with disabilities should be actively involved in the democratic activities in their country on equal basis with others.Whether it is in voter education ,voter registration,participation in political processes,Aspiring for political offices or involvement in  Democracy related work.The Voting Rights as captured in various instruments as Kenya constitution 2010,UNCRPD,Disability ACT among others

OBJECTIVES

  •  To create awareness on election processes through voter education, to persons with disabilities so that their participation in electoral processes can be enhanced.
  • To advocate with Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) and Institutions so that that they are responsive to the needs of persons with different disabilities.
  •  Enabling Persons with disabilities to be more informed to participate in political and public life.
  • To empower persons with disabilities to participate in voter education process in Whole County effectively.
  • Training of elected and nominated PWD on their mandate to represent PWD 
  • Making elections as inclusive as possible by bringing all the electoral stakeholders together to see how the challenges that hinder persons with disabilities from effective participation can be solved. 

PROJECT ONE:

Leave No One Behind in Electoral Process

This project was funded by National Council of Persons with Disabilities with an aim of enabling Persons with disabilities to be more informed to participate in political and public life. This project’s main objective was to empower persons with disabilities to participate in voter education process in Whole County effectively. This project was able to accomplish its activities which include;

  • experience sharing forums for PWDs who were political aspirants,
  • awareness creation of PWD leaders on the rights to political participation and representation
  • training 30 PWD nominated on campaign management and training of elected and nominated PWD on their mandate to represent PWD in various assemblies after 2017 general elections.

PROJECT TWO:

Facilitating an equal right to vote and aspire for political positions for persons with disabilities(URAIA)

UDPK implemented this an 18-month national project funded by URAIA. The goal of the project is to create awareness on election processes through voter education, to persons with disabilities so that their participation in electoral processes can be enhanced. The project also sought to advocate with Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) and Institutions so that that they are responsive to the needs of persons with different disabilities.

The project also worked with in electoral processes and Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) and Institutions that are responsive to the needs of persons with different disabilities.

  • 200 political aspirants were trained on campaigns and negotiation skills, 
  • advocated for Persons with disabilities to be elected and nominated for political posts. 
  • trained a number political aspirants and candidates with disabilities and held various advocacy meetings both and county and national levels as away making sure that issues of PWDs are taken care of in various interventions by different electoral actors

PROJECT THREE:

Strengthening Participation of Persons with disabilities in the electoral process in kenya

This project is supported by Handicap International (HI) and implemented in consortium with Action Network for the disabled (ANDY). The project objectives were to make the 2017 elections as inclusive as possible by bringing all the electoral stakeholders together to see how the challenges that hinder persons with disabilities from effective participation can be resolved amicably.

  • Build capacity of some selected DPOs and issue them with grants for advocacy at the county level as well as undertake civic education