More than 2000 deaf people from Nakuru have pleaded for a meeting with the Head of State Uhuru Kenyatta and His Deputy William Ruto In their tour of the county.
The deaf complained of being sidelined in the politics of the country yet they held a significant number of votes.
“As the deaf we would also like to front our candidate for the various posts being contested for. We have some very vibrant politicians who can change the course of history in Kenya. Yet, no one is given an opportunity to express themselves or even be listened to,” said Martin Njoroge, a deaf youth leader.
Njoroge said that there are more than 300 000 deaf people in the country who risked not voting because of the government ignoring their pleas.
“We need a brief meeting so that we can tell the president of our issues. We believe that they can be able to listen to us better and help us achieve our political ambitions,” he added.
Aggrey Boto pointed out that many of the deaf had failed to register as voters for lack of interpreters at the registration centers.
“We feel that the president is the only one who can be able to adequately address the issues and give out directives where we can be able to feel more “Kenyans.” Currently, we feel ignored and hated by our leaders and this is detrimental in the 2017 elections,” he said.
They were speaking to the press on Monday in an exclusive interview.