https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250122/kenyan-parliament-passes-bill-imposing-hefty-fines--jail-terms-for-exploiting-disabled-people-1070307951.html
Kenyan Parliament Passes Bill Imposing Hefty Fines & Jail Terms for Exploiting Disabled People
Kenyan Parliament Passes Bill Imposing Hefty Fines & Jail Terms for Exploiting Disabled People
Sputnik Africa
The Persons with Disabilities Bill aims to bring Kenyan law into line with Article 54 of the Constitution, thereby strengthening the rights and opportunities... 22.01.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-01-22T15:09+0100
2025-01-22T15:09+0100
2025-01-22T16:30+0100
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Kenya's parliament passed at a special sitting last Thursday the Persons with Disabilities Bill, imposing substantial fines and jail terms for individuals who exploit people with disabilities, particularly through forced begging, according to the official record of debates in the National Assembly, the lower house of the Kenyan parliament.Passed by the National Assembly after a third reading with amendments, including increased fines and prison sentences for exploiting people with disabilities, the bill now awaits the signature of Kenyan President William Ruto to become law. Passed amendments also strengthen penalties for degrading treatment and medical malpractice affecting people with disabilities. The bill also provides for homeownership benefits for people with disabilities.Furthermore, it incentivizes public transport vehicle owners to modify their vehicles for accessibility and grants people with disabilities the right to sue for discrimination in access to public spaces and services.The bill was introduced in parliament in 2023 and passed with amendments by the Senate, Kenya's upper house of parliament, in February 2024.
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kenya, parliament, east africa, legislation, law, health, prison, imprisonment, william ruto, constitution, illegal activity
kenya, parliament, east africa, legislation, law, health, prison, imprisonment, william ruto, constitution, illegal activity
Kenyan Parliament Passes Bill Imposing Hefty Fines & Jail Terms for Exploiting Disabled People
15:09 22.01.2025 (Updated: 16:30 22.01.2025) Elizaveta Roschina
Writer/Editor
The Persons with Disabilities Bill aims to bring Kenyan law into line with Article 54 of the Constitution, thereby strengthening the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities.
Kenya's parliament passed at a special sitting last Thursday the Persons with Disabilities Bill, imposing substantial fines and jail terms for individuals who exploit people with disabilities, particularly through forced begging, according to the official
record of debates in the National Assembly, the lower house of the Kenyan parliament.
Passed by the National Assembly after a third reading with amendments, including increased fines and prison sentences for exploiting people with disabilities, the bill now awaits the signature of Kenyan President
William Ruto to become law.
"A person who causes, procures, encourages, or solicits a child or an adult with disabilities to engage in begging or receiving alms commits an offense and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two million shillings [around $15,500] or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both," one of the inserted clauses reads.
Passed amendments also strengthen penalties for degrading treatment and medical malpractice affecting people with disabilities.
The bill also provides for homeownership benefits for people with disabilities.
"Every government agency putting up residential and commercial buildings shall reserve at least five percent of the said residential and commercial buildings for acquisition by persons with disabilities, and the terms and conditions of such acquisition to persons with disabilities shall include interest-free and longer periods of repayment," says the new clause.
Furthermore, it incentivizes public transport vehicle owners to modify their vehicles for accessibility and grants people with disabilities the right to sue for discrimination in access to public spaces and services.
The bill was introduced in parliament in 2023 and passed with amendments by the Senate, Kenya's upper house of parliament, in February 2024.
