About 2.2% (KNBS,2019) of the Kenyan population experience a form of disability with the majority residing in rural areas. This low prevalence rate compared to the 15% global disability prevalence has been singled out by experts, open public distribution systems, & researchers to be resulting from lack of reliable disability data, high levels of stigma & discrimination, and inaccurate translations/context when designing disability surveys among other things. At the highest peak of Covid-19 disruption, the youth unemployment rate hit levels beyond the 40% national average. The pandemic not only created a severe disruption to the Kenya economy but also further exacerbated the proportion of PWDs not holding formal or informal employment. Additionally, PWDs undergo stigma and discrimination that undermines their human rights principle to work, employment and adequate standard of living. Bearing in mind the pre-existing inequalities in accessing employment among the PWDs; at one time estimated at 1% employment rate for PWDs compared to 73.8% for the general population (IDS, 2020), there is an urgent need to have a deliberate strategy to dismantle existing barriers to ensure youth with disabilities are productive members in the society.
