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George Ochola Woud Gem, 28507, Nairobi (2025)

28/10/2025

SENATE LABOUR COMMITTEE QUESTIONS MINISTRY OVER DEAFYMPICS PREPARATIONS

The Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, led by Vice Chairperson Sen. Crystal Asige, met with Cabinet Secretary Hon. Salim Mvurya to discuss how ready Kenya is for the 25th Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan (15–26 November 2025).

Senators raised serious concerns about:
⚠️ Underfunding of Deaf sports.
⚠️ Exclusion of some Deaf teams from the games.
⚠️ Accountability and misuse of funds in Deaf sports management.

Sen. Asige reminded the Ministry that the Deaflympics is not just a sport, but a key platform for inclusion and recognition of Deaf athletes.

“No athlete should be left out because of bureaucracy or lack of funds,” she said.

Only 5 out of 12 teams were approved to compete the Ministry said it was due to budget limits, but senators questioned how the selection was done.

Senators, including Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi) and Alexander Mundigi (Embu), asked why other teams that trained for years were excluded and called for transparency in the management of Deaf Sports.

In response, CS Mvurya said the Ministry has:
✅ Stabilized operations at the Kenya Sports Federation of the Deaf (KSFD).
✅ Appointed a new steering and management committee.
✅ Set aside Kshs. 419 million for the Deaflympics.
✅ Opened a dedicated account to ensure proper financial use.

He added that 179 athletes are already training at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium.

The Committee, however, asked for more clarification on why some teams were left out and called for inclusive participation so that no Deaf athlete is left behind.

13/10/2025

Let’s Be Honest: What Persons with Disabilities Should Know and AVOID

As we continue to push for inclusion and equality, it’s also time for us the disability community to reflect on our responsibility.
Real empowerment doesn’t come from taking advantage of our disability status, but from using it to inspire change and demand accountability.

🚫 What We Should Avoid:
Misusing the disability card for personal favors, shortcuts, or benefits we don’t qualify for it weakens our collective voice.
Allowing tokenism being used in projects or events just for visibility, without real participation or impact.

Ignoring policy and governance issues advocacy isn’t just about being seen; it’s about influencing the system that shapes our lives.
Depending only on aid while support is important, true inclusion comes through education, skills, and equal opportunities.

What We Should Focus On:
✅ Push for the Disability Amendment Act 2025 this law aims to strengthen rights to education, employment, accessibility, and social protection for all persons with disabilities.
✅ Demand implementation and accountability, not promises.
✅ Support organizations and leaders who are genuinely working to make inclusion practical not performative.
✅ Stand together Deaf, blind, physically, and psychosocially disabled because our power is strongest when we speak as one voice.

Let’s not be beneficiaries of pity, but partners in progress.
The time to act is now let’s push for a stronger, fairer Disability Amendment Act 2025 that truly leaves no one behind.

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30/09/2025

Every Child Deserves to Be Understood, Not Mislabeled.

Last week during a consultation one of the workshop i attended, a mother bitterly described her daughter as “autistic” saying she doesn’t talk, doesn’t eat, and is always hyper.

When I met this little girl, only 5 years old, I was amazed. She turned out to be one of the smartest, most curious children I’ve seen! She knew shapes, colors, the alphabet A–Z, numbers, and even wrote them perfectly on the board. Her curiosity shone when she stared at a flowery frame, then explored an intelligence puzzle.

She scattered and re-arranged it four times, showing determination and focus. With a little guidance (and her mom’s support), she solved it together missing just one piece that had fallen aside.

Here’s the truth: this “nonverbal autistic” girl actually talks, eats, responds well, explores new places, relates with others, and only throws tantrums when she doesn’t get what she wants like any other child. She is brilliant.
I encouraged the mother to seek a professional developmental child psychologist at a reputable hospital for proper assessment. Because one symptom alone does not mean a disability.

This is why I do what I do. To remind parents, caregivers, and communities:
Every child deserves to be seen for who they truly are.

Labels without proper assessment can limit a child’s potential.
With the right observation, guidance, and inclusive education, children can thrive.

Let’s create a world where children are understood, supported, and celebrated not mislabeled.

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18/09/2025

This issue of state house nikama imeleta shida kidogo my account itakuwa suspended for sometimes please follow my normal account

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18/09/2025

Important Update on Income Tax Exemption (ITE) Applications

The National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in partnership with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has launched a new and updated ITE system on eCitizen, effective 18th September 2025.

Here’s what you need to know ⬇️

✅ Real-time check of Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) validity
✅ Faster processing of Income Tax Exemption certificates
✅ No more multiple applications for ITE
✅ Fewer attachments (uploads only in PDF format)
✅ Improved feedback on applications

⚠️ Transition Notice:
If you had applied for ITE but your application has not been vetted, you MUST reapply using the new system since old applications will not be processed.

This change will improve efficiency, reduce turnaround time, and ensure compliance with tax regulations.

17/09/2025

Key highlights include:
✅ A broader, inclusive definition of disability
✅ Stronger powers for the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD)
✅ Clear national & county roles in promoting rights
✅ Enforced 5% employment quota (public & private sector)
✅ Expanded rights in education, health, ICT, justice & independent living

17/09/2025

History Fact:
Did you know that Uganda was the first African country to officially recognize Sign Language back in 1981?

Nearly three decades later, Kenya enshrined Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) in its 2010 Constitution, officially acknowledging it as a language of the Deaf community.

This recognition opened the door for greater access to education, justice, and participation in national life for the Deaf, reminding us that language is not just a tool of communication it is a bridge to equality.

Together, let’s continue pushing for inclusion and Sign Language rights across Africa.

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16/09/2025

My dear friend Cate Syokau will be returning to her roots in the most beautiful way On 27th September in Masaku (Machakos County),
At her former primary school now a safe home for 180+ children with disabilities Cate is hosting a special charity event filled with kindness, compassion, and joy.
The day will be about more than giving; it’s about sharing life: cooking together, cleaning, playing, celebrating little Zawadi’s birthday, and simply being present with the kids.
You, too, can be part of this love filled moment by donating food, lending a hand, or just showing up with a warm heart. Every act of kindness creates ripples of hope.
“Dhako ma NyamKamba onge nyiego, en gi yie kendo gi teko”
A Kamba woman never gives up; she carries faith and strength.

16/09/2025

AI has become a key topic across many disability organizations and for good reason. In one project I’m currently engaged in as a key participant on AI Agents for the Deaf and hard of hearing community, I’ve observed a significant gap between AI strategies and real business goals. While AI offers huge potential, adoption often lags, creating missed opportunities for impact and value.

For disability organizations, integrating AI isn’t just about efficiency it’s about accessibility, empowerment, and inclusion. Imagine AI driven captioning that bridges communication, or AI systems that analyze accessibility gaps in services. These are not side projects; they should be central to how organizations plan and deliver on their missions.

The challenges remain the same: lack of collaboration with the right stakeholders, poor data quality, and neglecting the human aspect. But in the disability sector, this human aspect is even more critical building an AI-ready, disability inclusive culture ensures staff, members, and communities understand and embrace how AI can support their roles and rights.

A strong AI strategy for disability organizations must:
✅ Align tightly with organizational goals.
✅ Involve persons with disabilities at every stage of design and decision making.
✅ Treat internal users as “customers,” ensuring solutions meet real accessibility needs.
✅ Focus on measurable impact not just innovation for innovation’s sake.

When AI is inclusive, it’s not only about technology it’s about justice, equal opportunity, and dignity.

Join us On 29th September, we’ll be hosting an X Space on AI and Sign Language. Join us as we explore how AI can bridge communication and create a more inclusive future.

16/09/2025

It’s just DEAF or HARD OF HEARING.
Yes! Just Deaf. Just Hard of Hearing.

Without the “dumb.”
Because the word “dumb” means lacking intelligence (as in “a dumb question” or “acting dumb”).

Deafness or being Hard of Hearing is simply a difference in hearing, not a lack of intelligence.
Being unable to hear does not mean being unable to think, dream, achieve, or lead.

“Deaf and Dumb” is outdated, offensive, and wrong.

We have Deaf and Hard of Hearing doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, educators, creators, parents, advocates and so much more.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing does not mean mute or voiceless.
We communicate through Sign Language, speech, writing, or technology.

The real problem has never been our ability to communicate, but society’s willingness to listen and understand.

I’m sure you’ve learnt that:

Deaf / Hard of Hearing ≠ Dumb

Deaf / Hard of Hearing ≠ Less

Deaf / Hard of Hearing ≠ Mute

Deaf / Hard of Hearing = Able, Intelligent, and Full of Potential

This Deaf Awareness Month, let’s spread respect, inclusion, and equality.
And the next time I hear you say “Deaf and Dumb,” you may just hear from my Deaf (or Hard of Hearing) Lawyer.

16/09/2025

Sama dhano pangoni marach.......

To Ruoth to pangoni maber❤️

14/09/2025

Have you ever felt like you’re just posting into thin air?
1 like, no comments, and you wonder, is anyone even seeing this?

I’ve been there.
Yet most of the calls, partnerships, and opportunities I’ve received came from posts I thought nobody noticed.

Here’s the truth: people are always watching silently, quietly, faithfully. Your consistency is blessing lives, opening doors, and shifting mindsets in ways you may never realize.

To my friends in the disability world: don’t stop sharing your story, your work, or your truth just because the applause feels small. Every post is a seed.

And as we mark Deaf Awareness Month 2025, remember when you post about disability rights, accessibility, and inclusion, you’re not just raising awareness, you’re educating someone, changing an attitude, and pushing us closer to a barrier-free world.

Keep showing up. Someone is listening. Someone is learning. Someone is being impacted.

George Ochola Woud Gem

28/10/2025

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