A trip to the market is as easy as hopping into a matatu for most Kenyans. But for the nearly one million persons with physical disability, such a trip is 15 times more difficult.
In a new survey of adults with traumatic spinal injury, an overwhelming 90 per cent said using public transport was the biggest limitation to their independence.
It was even higher than the challenge of standing unsupported, which was listed second by 83 per cent of the respondents, and using the toilet (76 per cent).
“Functioning problems and environmental barriers are prevalent among adults living with traumatic spinal cord injury in Kenya,” says the study published this week.
About 910,000 Kenyans live with some form of disability, according to the 2019 census, with about 480,000 having a physical disability that interferes with mobility.
Researchers in the current study surveyed 90 Kenyan adults with TSCI, which resulted in temporary or permanent change to neurological function, including paralysis.
They were all living with the disability for over a year and were recruited from the National Spinal Injury Referral Hospital in Nairobi, the only public specialised rehabilitation facility in Kenya.
"We found that using public transportation is a significant hurdle for many," the researchers said. "This limitation not only affects mobility but also impacts social and economic participation."
The study titled, 'Activity limitations, participation restrictions, and environmental barriers among persons with traumatic spinal cord injury in Kenya', was published in the Disability and Rehabilitation journal.
The researchers also evaluated environmental barriers that further restrict disabled people's independence. The study revealed that 96 per cent of participants cited inadequate finances as a major obstacle. Additionally, 92 per cent reported inaccessibility of public places, and 90 per cent faced problems with long-distance transport.
According to the World Health Organisation, persons with disability find inaccessible and unaffordable transportat 15 times more difficult than those without disability.
On Tuesday, the WHO released the Status Report in Road Safety 2023 showing Kenya is among the top five African countries with the most dangerous roads.
About 10,000 Kenyans are adversely injured in road accidents every year, with many of them ending with permanent spinal injuries.
In 2019, a separate analysis by the Open Institute Ability Programme found that most Nairobi buildings and streets are unfriendly to people with disability.
Kenya has a disability law intended to guarantee disabled people barrier-free and disability-friendly environment in buildings, roads and social facilities.
Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi recently said the act is not effective.
Wanyonyi said Persons with Disability Act has been in existence since 2003. "We have beautiful legislation but it is not implemented," he said.
On Wednesday, road safety advocate Patrick Kinyanjui said the government has the primary role to keep people safe.
“We have different levels of government and there should be a way of coordination. Road safety is a human right. We are moving away from blaming the road users. There are so many things you can do before talking about behaviour,” he said.
Kinyanjui is the regional coordinator, Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety Africa Chapter
Binta Sako, WHO's lead on rehabilitation in Africa, said enforcement of safety belts and helmets for motorists is one way to reduce road deaths.
“Seat belts and helmets won't reduce the risk of a crash but it reduces the impact of that crash on a person. A safety belt will reduce the impact between the individual and elements of that car by 40-50 per cent for front passengers and the driver, and by 25 per cent for passengers seated at the back,” she said.
According to the Ministry of Health, Kenyan road crash victims spend Sh46.1 billion to treat injuries every year.
“Road traffic injuries are ranked ninth as the leading cause of death in our country," said Medical Services PS Harry Kimutai on Tuesday.
"Besides these deaths, hundreds of thousands are seriously injured suffering long-term impairments and lifelong disabilities. Those who survive undergo prolonged suffering and incur lots of expenditure from medical treatment and rehabilitation.”