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Embrace Inclusion organized a forum to do a recollection of significant changes impacted by the pre-election inclusive election programs. The meeting was attended by DPO leaders from the beneficiary sub counties, IEBC sub county educators, election observers and Action Network for the Disabled educator and was held at Chania Tourist Lodge hall, Thika.

Discussions

The main point of discussions were centered on whether the trainings by ANDY and Embrace Inclusion did have any impact on PWDs in both understanding of the voting process, PWDs rights and whether there was confidence among members in their respective DPOs towards participation of the upcoming general elections.

The highlight changes witnessed included the following;

1. E.B.C sending its officers to meet PWD groups and educate them on the voting procedures
2. Due to greater awareness created through sessions, they were able to know their rights to education, where and how to demand them
3. They had helped a lot of their members who previously didn’t believe in electoral process register as voters and be ready to participate.
4. Through the sessions, candidates vying for different seats met them which gave the DPOs a much clear audience with them hence able to choose their candidates as groups depending on the visions towards PWDs.
5. Through the awareness created some of their members presented their credentials to be considered by I.E.B.C for different job positions that were available within the commission to conduct the elections.

Though stakeholders do agree that there have been positive and identifiable transformation in both ends of PWDs and the commission through education and recognition respectively, there are still challenges that needed to be addressed like proper allocation of job opportunities and  I.E.B.C educators unavailability in some areas  which led to information reaching late.

They all hailed the impact created by both sides in educating their members and the awareness created through the forums held in their areas.

It was agreed that trainings should be held much earlier before the elections to be able to reach out more people in much remote and interior areas.

They were all thankful to both embrace inclusion and Andy for facilitating the trainings and hailed the impact created.

As part of the ongoing inclusive election program in Kiambu County, Embrace Inclusion in partnership with Action Network for the Disabled (ANDY) and Ruiru District Disability Network (RUDNET) conducted a public forum in Ruiru Sub County which was held at the Ruiru CDF Social hall on 6^th June, 2017.

The forum was attended by Persons with Disabilities from different the eight wards evenly distributed within the constituency, DPO leaders who assisted in preparation and arrangement of the venue and logistics. Present were the IEBC voters educators from the constituency, the District officer from the local administration and ANDY educators.

The forum main agenda was to educate persons with disabilities on their rights as voters, importance of participating in the election and the processes that will be taking place in the Election Day.

The Civil and voter education forum was targeting persons with disabilities; whom the majority don’t participate in election due to various difficulties that are normally associated with the polling exercise.

The IEBC educators were tasked with explaining measures that have been taken to ensure all PWDs full participate in elections without obstacles experienced in the previous elections.  PWDs presented their arguments on issues such as discrimination while awarding job opportunities, lack of support to caretakers and measures taken to identify persons with disabilities at the polling stations.

The local administration promised their commitment to ensure every person is protected within the law and to offer adequate support to vote where necessary.

Embrace inclusion will follow up on post election forums that will look forward to facilitate meetings with the elected leaders once elections are completed.

Embrace Inclusion conducted a civic education forum to educate persons with disabilities on their rights to participate in voting exercise 0n 25^th August, 2017 at the Muungano wa wanakijiji Hall Kiandutu where it engaged various stakeholders such as local administration, IEBC, URAIA and DPOs.

IEBC representative engaged PWDs enlightening them of their rights and the processes towards elections; including employment opportunities and preference treatment during voting for PWDs e.g. on queuing, voter assistance, and targeted voter education.

PWDs had an opportunity to engage the stakeholders with different questions towards IEBC where they were addressed to satisfaction.

URAIA educator facilitated on constitution article 54, and other general rights also bringing the convention on rights of persons with disabilities. They also taught on devolution, what it is for, and who has to benefit; this was well done and PWDs expressed understanding through engagements.

Administration representative; the chief showed commitment towards ensuring persons with disabilities access services his area of jurisdiction. In addition, he said he would lobby for implementation of privileges to the county government e.g. parking fee completely waived, access to restrooms completely waived.

It was an enlightening experience for the participants and persons with disabilities were happy to be engaged in such a forum and requested more forums of such to continue where the aim is to bringing policies implementers closer to the affected communities.

From this forum, three key findings were recorded and Embrace Inclusion is progressively acting through its programs designed to impact the shortcomings recorded with the following measures.