Haki Africa executive director Hussein Khalid at a past media breifing. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) will not queue with other Kenyans on voting day, a rights group has said.
Mombasa-based Haki Africa said on Friday the civil society body has consulted the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to create special lines for PWDs on August 8.The lobby’s executive director Hussein Khalid said civil rights groups, ahead of the polls, will educate PWDs on what they will be expected to do on voting day. He said the deaf, the dumb and the blind will be assisted to vote.“We will deploy trained people who will be on standby to help people living disabilities,” Khalid said at a join presser with IEBC officials in Mombasa.“There shall be a special line for them.”Khalid said during the 2013 general election there were no arrangements to help PWDs and some of them queued with the rest of Kenyans under scorching sun for several hours waiting to cast their votes.This, he said, will not happen in August. Khalid called on IEBC to print ballot papers with brail to enable blind people vote after making independent judgment. Sign language instructors will also be on standby to assist the dumb.County IEBC chief Hussein Abdul said the electoral body will closely work with civil rights groups to ensure PWDs get the necessary help on voting day.Kenyans will return to the polls in August to elect president, governors, senators, woman representatives, MPs and MCAs in what political analysts describe as the country’s most hotly contested election since independence.