Special taxis in Nairobi bring mobility to disabled Kenyans | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Disability accessibility in Nairobi's public transport
• Kenya's disability law and its implementation
• Ace Mobility: A transport solution for people with disabilities
• Challenges faced by people with disabilities in Nairobi
• The role of legislation and enforcement in improving accessibility

Challenges of Public Transport for People with Disabilities:

• Inaccessibility of Public Buses: Commercial buses and minivans in Nairobi are not designed for wheelchair users or individuals with mobility challenges.
• Physical Strain and Humiliation: Elvisa, a customer care agent, describes the daily struggle of being lifted onto and off buses, which is physically tiring and lowers self-esteem.
• Lack of Progress: Wilson Kamar, a wheelchair user and former bus driver, notes that there has been no improvement in public transport accessibility for people with disabilities. He states, "Nothing. Nothing. Zero zero zero zero zero. There's nothing that's changed."
• Impossibility for Severe Disabilities: Boarding a public bus is nearly impossible for individuals with severe disabilities, requiring significant assistance even for those with some mobility.

Ace Mobility: A Solution Born from Personal Experience:

• Inspiration: Daniel Gura, Wilson Kamar's son, was motivated by his father's challenges and his experience as a taxi driver, where he observed the difficulties faced by people with reduced mobility.
• Business Model: Daniel sold his car, took a loan, and bought a mobility van to cater to people with disabilities, leading to the creation of Ace Mobility.
• Personalized Service: Ace Mobility provides extra support and patience to its clients, offering a "caregiver" approach where drivers assist passengers to their exact destination. Daniel states that drivers are able to work with you "to the exact floor or building you're going to."
• Fleet Size: Ace Mobility operates a fleet of 20 vans and drivers across Nairobi.
• Cost: Ace Mobility's services are approximately 30% more expensive than regular ride-hailing apps.

Kenya's Disability Law and Implementation:

• Constitutional Rights: The rights of people with disabilities are enshrined in Kenya's 2010 constitution.
• Population Statistics: People with disabilities constitute 2.2% of Kenya's population, which is close to 1 million individuals, according to the United Nations Population Fund.
• New Disability Law: A new law aims to translate principles into action by setting deadlines for transport companies to accommodate people with disabilities.
• Enforcement Mechanism: Bishop Jackson Kos, vice chair of Kenya's disability parliamentary association, emphasizes the importance of the law and the right people to implement it. He states that the law will tie conditions to licensing for transport operations to ensure compliance.
• Delayed Implementation: The new law allows a 5-year grace period before companies are forced to comply, leaving Ace Mobility as one of the few options for people with disabilities in Nairobi for the time being.

Conclusion:

The video highlights the significant challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing public transport in Nairobi. While Kenya has a new disability law that promises change, its implementation remains a major hurdle. Ace Mobility, a business born from personal experience, is attempting to fill the gap by providing personalized transport services for people with disabilities. The effectiveness of the new law will depend on its enforcement and the willingness of transport companies to comply with its provisions.