The National Assembly officially passed the Kenya Sign Language Bill 2023. This legislation formally recognizes Kenyan Sign Language as an official means of communication, taking a massive stride toward ensuring that deaf and hard-of-hearing persons can fully integrate into society, access public services, and enjoy fair treatment within the justice system.
The law introduces an official regulatory body tasked with protecting the communication rights of deaf and deafblind citizens, while registering, licensing, and setting a professional Code of Conduct for interpreters.
This Bill will introduce major changes in both education and media. It mandates the integration of Kenyan Sign Language into early childhood and basic education curricula to boost literacy development and promote access to quality learning, while also opening up diverse, competitive opportunities in the workplace.
In addition, television broadcasters will now be required to feature closed captioning and large sign language interpretation insets, taking up at least one-third of the screen, during news broadcasts, educational programming, and national events.
This is a long-overdue achievement that not only secures important communication rights but also celebrates and promotes deaf culture across the country.
