PRESENTATION BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT VISION ON ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES KICC ON 27 TH JUNE

This presentation will cover progress made in accessibility and the challenges being faced in ensuring universal access in the various modes of transport. Persons With Disability (PWD) Act in relation to PSVs Section 23(1) of the PWD Act states that operator of a public service shall adapt it to suit persons with disabilities in such a manner as may be specified by the Council 23(2) All operators of public service vehicles shall comply with subsection (1) within two years after this section comes into operation. 2

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities hoists the key need to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life. It is therefore critical that all obstacles and barriers to accessibility of transportation facilities/services and other indoor and outdoor facilities be eliminated. 3

To enable the transport sector play its role effectively, the Ministry launched the National Transport Policy Committee in The mandate of the Committee was to formulate an Integrated National Transport Policy covering all modes. Cabinet adopted the Policy in May 2009 Cabinet directed the Ministry to develop a Sessional Paper to communicate the content of the policy to Parliament The process of the policy formulation was conducted on a consultative basis punctuated with modeling of solutions based on international best practice 4

Why the INTP? Formulate policies that will guide development of an efficient, cost effective, safe and sustainable transport system that links the transport policy with other sectoral policies. The National transport policy has made various policy recommendations that enhances people with disability to move around at will in society and realize their full participation and integration into the community 5

Inefficient and unreliable PSV industry – long transit time, indiscipline among transport operators and little respect for physically challenged persons Lack of Inter-modal Integration facilities - each mode operates largely on its own without deliberate logistic linkages with other modes including NMTS Lack of Adequate Non Motorized Means of Transport to cater for people with special needs (poor, women, physically challenged, school going children's, etc) - no provision of appropriate infrastructure such as pedestrians crossings, foot bridges, ramps, for the non-motorized and intermediate means of transport About 40% of Nairobi residents walk to their places of work Only about 4% use bodaboda to reach their places of work. 6

Safety of NMTs - shared use of road space by both NMTs and Motorized Transport results into serious danger to road users Most NMTs users lack adequate road user knowledge Lack of adequate funds for development and maintenance – Past experience shows that transport policies have largely supported motorized transport at the expense of NMT and have denied the poor and disadvantaged benefits inherent in incorporating NMIMTs in development of transport facilities and has contributed to continued marginalisation of NMIMT users. 7

Uncontrolled urban development and land use planning that is inconsistent with the provision of transport facilities - encourages urban sprawl, long commuter travel time, congestion, etc. make it difficult for government to plan and provide appropriate transport infrastructure including NMTC facilities. Implementation of the policy proposals by various stakeholders would provide an accessible or barrier free environment in which all transport users, irrespective of their physical challenges would access/use PSVs with ease 8

Provision of appropriate Non-Motorised and Intermediate Means of Transport (NMIMTs) facilities such as pedestrian crossing, walkways, footbridges, to address the needs of the poor as well as the physically challenged persons Ensure NMIMTs infrastructure are incorporated into the planning and design of transport infrastructures – currently we design infrastructure for motorized transport leaving out facilities for non-motorized transport Provide incentives to support local manufacture of NMIMT facilities/vehicles. 9

Local/urban authorities to provide park and ride facilities to provide use of NMTs in major bus stations Provide non-transport interventions coordinate with relevant sectors and communities to establish facilities such as schools, health centres, water, energy, etc. near the population- non transport intervention facilities eg. posho mills. Encourage telecommuting (telecommuting is the use of telecommunications technology to replace traditional forms of commuting) as an alternative means of transport in the long term particularly within urban areas particularly to those that are physically challenged. 10

Development of training institutions that teach skills in the design, development/ maintenance relevant to NMIMTs vehicles and facilities Proposes introduction of incentives to encourage and promote development of facilities/vehicles for NMTs by private sector Ensure traffic flow management system incorporate special facilities for all road users including physically challenged persons Making sound when traffic light is red Use of trigger buttons to control Traffic lights on traffic controlled junctions 11

Incorporation of the organization dealing with people with disabilities into the National Road Safety Council Construction of Ramps for the physically challenged persons at the new Syokimau railway station Escalators and Braille language at tower lifts at the airports Incorporation of NMT facilities in urban trunk roads including construction of foot bridges, pedestrian paths, etc that are accessible to the physically challenged - ongoing 12

Final Sessional Paper No.2 on INTP submitted to Parliament on November,2011 Ministry has already given a motion of intention to table the Sessional Paper No.2 on INTP to Parliament for discussion and adoption. This will give legal backing to policy proposals on incorporation of NMT facilities in all future transport facilities. 13

END THANK YOU! 14