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People with Intellectual Disabilities face many challenges within Kenyan society due to stigmatization and lack of information available about disabilities. Some of the key challenges that PWID’s and their families face are:
- Lack of knowledge about their human rights. Most parents and PWID’s are not aware of their human rights based on the PWD Act (2003) and UN Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (2007) ,and signed by Kenya in 2008.
- High rates of sexual, physical, emotional and psycho-social abuse.
- Difficulties attaining their Kenyan National Identification Card which recognizes them as full citizens as only 1% are holders of their National Identification Cards.
- Few opportunities for them to attend primary school, as according to the Task Force Report on Special Education only 1.5 – 2% of PWID’s within Kenya attend school (2003)
- Limited opportunities for them to attend vocational training
- Minimal employment opportunities.
- High vulnerability for female andmales PWID’s leading to HIV & Aids
- Confusion within the community about the difference between mental illness and intellectual disability.
- Harmful cultural practices
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