Tana Water champions deaf inclusion in Nyeri
The Tana Water Works Development Agency (TWWDA) joined the deaf community and development partners in Nyeri to commemorate the International Day of Sign Languages, reaffirming its commitment to promoting inclusive communication and equal access to essential public services.
The event, held under the theme “Together We Sign, Together We Include,” brought together government institutions, development partners and organizations advocating for the rights and welfare of persons who are deaf.
The commemoration coincided with Deaf Awareness Month and International Deaf Awareness Week, which provide an opportunity to raise public awareness about the rights, experiences and contributions of the deaf community while encouraging greater inclusion across society.
Speaking through its participation in the celebrations, TWWDA emphasized the importance of ensuring that access to essential public services goes beyond the provision of infrastructure to include accessible communication and meaningful public participation.
The agency acknowledged that effective service delivery requires institutions to recognize and respond to the diverse communication needs of the communities they serve, particularly persons with disabilities.
Through its involvement in the event, TWWDA reinforced the need for public institutions to eliminate communication barriers that may prevent persons who are deaf from accessing information, participating in decision-making processes and benefiting fully from public services.
The celebrations also highlighted the importance of sign language in promoting equality, strengthening social inclusion and enabling persons who are deaf to participate actively in community development.
Among the stakeholders who participated in the commemoration were the County Government of Nyeri, Deaf Outreach Program (DAEFOP), National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Taifa Sacco, Australian Aid, Anglican Overseas Aid, Co-operative Bank of Kenya and Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company (NYEWASCO).
Their participation demonstrated the importance of collaboration between government agencies, financial institutions, development organizations and community groups in advancing disability inclusion.
The event provided an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and encourage institutions to adopt communication approaches that accommodate the needs of persons who are deaf.
For the water sector, the commemoration underscored the importance of ensuring that information about water and sanitation services is accessible to all consumers, regardless of their communication needs.
It also highlighted the role of public institutions in creating an enabling environment where persons with disabilities can engage meaningfully with service providers and participate in matters affecting their communities.
The International Day of Sign Languages is observed annually on September 23 to promote the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of deaf people and other sign language users.
The Nyeri celebrations reinforced the message that building an inclusive society requires collective responsibility, stronger partnerships and sustained efforts to ensure that no community is excluded from accessing essential services.
