Crystal Asige welcomes Bill raising retirement age for persons with disabilities
Nominated senator Crystal Asige has applauded the recent signing of the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Act 2025, particularly the provision that extends the retirement age for persons with disabilities to 65.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, May 12, 2025, Asige celebrated this landmark shift in policy, describing it as a transformative moment for inclusivity and equal rights in Kenya.
Asige hailed the decision as a vital step toward eliminating long-standing barriers faced by persons with disabilities in the workforce.
“The extension of the retirement age for persons with disabilities to 65 is not just a policy change—it’s a transformative step toward a more inclusive society,” she wrote.
This new provision guarantees that individuals with disabilities are no longer subjected to premature retirement simply because of their condition, nor compelled to down their tools at 60, as has traditionally been the case for their non-disabled counterparts.
PWDs other provisions
Alongside the extended retirement age, Asige revealed that the Persons With Disabilities Act 2025 includes a range of other provisions designed to improve accessibility and support for PWDs.
These include tax exemptions for caregivers, lifetime income tax exemptions for those with permanent disabilities, and mandatory disability-specific training for medical professionals.
Additionally, public and private institutions are now required to ensure that their ICT products and services adhere to accessibility standards, marking a significant step forward in digital inclusion.
“Organisations supporting persons with disabilities through donations or subsidised insurance will receive tax incentives, encouraging insurer participation in disability welfare. Public and private institutions must ensure that all ICT products and services meet the Kenya Accessibility Standard,” Asige shared.
One of the bill’s most powerful aspects is its stringent measures against discrimination.
It introduces severe penalties for discrimination against PWDs, including fines of up to Ksh1M or imprisonment for up to two years.
The law also criminalises the act of encouraging or forcing PWDs to beg, with those found guilty facing up to five years in prison or a fine of up to five million shillings.
“Discrimination against persons with disabilities now carries penalties — fines up to one million shillings or imprisonment up to two years. Causing or encouraging persons with disabilities to beg is now criminalised, with penalties up to five million shillings or five years in prison. Fraudulent attempts to access disability benefits will be punished with fines, imprisonment, or both,” Asige added.
Crowning her message, Asige noted that public transport operators who extend fare subsidies to persons with disabilities will now enjoy tax deductions, celebrating the sweeping reforms as proof that inclusion in Kenya has finally transcended empty rhetoric.
“Public transport owners who subsidise fares for persons with disabilities will receive tax deductions, and certified individuals with disabilities are allowed to operate public service vehicles. Inclusion in Kenya is no longer an option #VIP.’
Act of Parliament
The Bill, now an Act of Parliament, was officially signed into law by President William Ruto on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in State House, Nairobi.
Ruto, after appending his signature to the bill, said that the new law is not only progressive but also affirms the dignity of the disabled.
He further highlighted that persons living with disabilities make up a significant portion of the population, citing the 2019 National Housing and Population Census, which recorded nearly one million people with disabilities over the age of five, approximately two per cent of Kenya’s population.
“It has been my singular honour and duty this morning to sign into law the Persons with Disabilities Bill 2025, a progressive piece of legislation that reaffirms the dignity and rights of all persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in Kenya,” Ruto stated.
“This community constitutes a significant segment of our population. According to the 2019 National Housing and Population Census, the number of individuals with disabilities above the age of five stood at just under one million, about 2% of our total population, while globally, it is estimated that they represent 15% of the world’s population.”
In addition, the head of state noted that despite being a critical part of every nation’s demographic, individuals with disabilities face systemic barriers, such as challenges in accessing education, healthcare, employment, and social services.
“Although this group forms a critical part of every nation’s demographic, they continue to face systemic barriers, including challenges in accessing education, healthcare, employment, and basic social services. Some of these hurdles are rooted in structural, social, political, and cultural systems. Others stem from institutional and attitudinal barriers that lead to exclusion and unequal access to opportunities,” Ruto noted.
