NAIROBI, Kenya July 22 – Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) has announced plans to accelerate the inclusion of persons with disabilities into formal employment and across its entire value chain.
The brewer has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Inclusive Futures partner, Sightsavers that’s geared towards mainstreaming the inclusion of persons with disabilities into the business.
Unemployment and poverty have been identified as the major challenges facing persons with disabilities in Kenya.
Labour Market Assessment commissioned by Sightsavers shows that persons with disabilities constitute less than 2 per cent of the workforce in Kenya.
Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Labour, Simon Chelugui, noted that empowering persons with disabilities economically is a human right. He rooted for a more inclusive society to ensure a more productive society.
The Persons with Disability Bill (2013) seeks that 5 per cent of contractual and casual jobs in the country be reserved for persons with disabilities.
“Empowered persons with disabilities can compete equitably in the job market and contribute to the country’s economic growth. It is crucial that companies adopt practices and policies designed to identify and remove barriers that hamper persons with disabilities’ full participation in economic activities, both in the formal and informal sectors,” said Chelugui.
KBL Managing Director, John Musunga affirmed the company’s commitment to helping the government reach and surpass this target.
“We are committed to creating an inclusive, collaborative culture that benefits both society and our business. We recognize the underrepresentation of people living with disabilities in employment and supply chains across businesses. As a result, we are keen on mapping opportunities for inclusion along our value chain and shaping market-leading policies and practices in a bid to empower them and improve their livelihoods,” he said.
Representing Inclusive Futures, the Sightsavers Country Director Moses Chege said partnerships are vital for driving forward the inclusion of all people – both within Kenya and globally.
