24/06/2026
๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐| ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐ผ๐จ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ช๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ก๐ก, ๐๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ
The National Assembly has passed the Kenyan Sign Language Bill, 2023 (Senate Bill No. 9 of 2023) with amendments, paving the way for enhanced recognition, regulation and use of Kenyan Sign Language across public institutions, schools, courts, media houses and telecommunications services.
The Bill, co-sponsored by Hon. Millie Odhiambo-Mabona and Hon. Umulkher Harun, seeks to promote inclusivity and guarantee equal access to information, education and public services for persons who are deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind.
The legislation gives effect to constitutional provisions that recognize Kenyan Sign Language as an official means of communication and affirm the rights of persons with disabilities to access services through appropriate communication formats.
The Bill establishes the Kenya Sign Language Council, a new statutory body mandated to regulate, develop and preserve Kenyan Sign Language in the country. The Council will be responsible for setting standards for training and practice, registering and licensing sign language interpreters, protecting the communication rights of deaf and deafblind persons, and advising the Government on matters relating to sign language.
The Council will be headquartered in Nairobi but will be required to decentralize its services across the country. Its membership will include representatives from government, the deaf community, sign language interpreters and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities.
The Bill also introduces far-reaching reforms in the education sector. The Cabinet Secretary responsible for Basic Education will be required to facilitate sign language lessons for parents, guardians and family members of deaf, hard-of-hearing and deafblind children. Kenyan Sign Language will also be integrated
