23/06/2025
On June 4th, our very own Dr. Chike Churchill Okogwu, Chief Responsibility Officer at the Center for Ability Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE), joined a powerful panel hosted by inable in Nairobi, Kenya π°πͺ.
π€ The panel, themed βEnhancing Accessibility Across Travel: From First Mile to Last Mile in Public Transportation, Air Travel, and Supporting Infrastructureβ, brought together changemakers addressing challenges in public transport, air travel, and infrastructure for persons with disabilities.
π₯ Real stories were shared:
Panel Recap: From LβR
James Angonye, Researcher at Technoprise, opened with findings from a study in Nairobi, Mombasa, Lagos & Abuja focused on how persons with physical, visual, and cognitive disabilities navigate road travel.
Diana:
βI use two- and three-wheelers, theyβre accessible but dangerous. Thereβs nowhere to hold onto, and Iβve fallen. We even pay more than others just to ride.β
Ejiro:
βBuses donβt stop when I have my white cane. I needed help just to attend a friendβs wedding. If we had personal guides, it would make a big difference.β
Bably:
βDeaf women face barriers every step, there are no fare signs or destination boards. Uberβs too expensive. At the airport, announcements are made without interpreters, how are we supposed to board on time?β
Dr. Chike:
βEveryone deserves a ride. We created a solar-rechargeable electric tuk-tuk with a ramp, affordable, reliable, and built for dignity.β
He wrapped up with a powerful message:
π£οΈ βWhen the first to the last mile ends in a smile, then our work is done.β
π¬ From ramps to reforms, the takeaway was loud and clear:
Access isnβt a featureβitβs a right.
Imran Manji:
βItβs encouraging to see inclusive innovation like the e-tuk-tuk. Weβre building platforms that identify discrimination, but itβs hard without user reports. A smoother user experience is coming through better design and research.β
Every voice on the panel reflected real-life transport struggles, and real innovation too. From ramps to reforms, itβs clear: access isnβt a feature, itβs a right.
