ACPF new report lauds Kenya’s efforts in advancing disability-inclusive pre-primary education and urges for concrete action to address significant gaps between policy and implementation
Nairobi, 24 September 2026
Across Africa, millions of young children do not have access to quality early childhood education and children with disabilities are facing the worst forms of significant barriers, African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) said today in the release of the Kenya section of a four-country study on disability-inclusive pre-primary education. The report also covers, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.
The country study in Kenya entitled “Advancing Disability-Inclusive Pre-Primary Education in Kenya: Bridging Policy and Practice” was released in Nairobi today at a National Multi-Stakeholders Symposium convened by ACPF in collaboration with the United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK). The national symposium brought together representatives of relevant national and county government institutions, organisations of persons with disabilities, civil society organisations, Early Childhood Development Education practitioners, teacher-training institutions, researchers, parents and caregivers, development partners, and members of the media.
The report lauds the commendable efforts made by the government of Kenya in putting in place progressive constitutional, legal and policy frameworks for promoting the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood education. However, the study also revealed a policy-practice disconnect including, weak intergovernmental coordination; inadequate financing; gaps in early identification and assessment of children with disabilities; special needs teacher capacity and pedagogy limitations; as well as inadequate learning materials and play adaptations. The report further highlighted limited stakeholder participation and caregiver support and data gaps that constrain planning, policy measures and accountability.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, ACPF Executive Director, Dr Daniel Bekele said, “When a child with a disability is excluded from pre-primary education, that exclusion rarely ends at the classroom door. Its effects can extend throughout the child’s educational journey and deepen disadvantage within families and communities.
The report shows how pre-primary classrooms are not just learning centres but also part of a rich ecosystem that offers the opportunity for social interactions, for appreciating diversity, for the enjoyment of play and for the development of emotional intelligence. The lack of commitment for a meaningful Early Childhood Development Education would deprive millions of children of the opportunity to experience a life characterized by dignity and deprive children of the opportunity to realize their potential. The ACPF report, therefore, urges all stakeholders to engage in a multifaceted, multi-stakeholder action.
Kenya has established a strong and progressive foundation for disability-inclusive education. The Constitution guarantees the right to education and prohibits discrimination. The Persons with Disabilities Act, the ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa and the recent Kenyan Sign Language Bill are additional indicators of a progressive legal and policy framework
“The critical question before us is how these important commitments are translated into the everyday experience of children with disabilities in schools across the country” Dr. Daniel Bekele said. He added, “The evidence from the Kenya study is unmistakable: the duty to ensure children’s rights go beyond mere policy promises, it requires taking concrete steps that will eventually impact the lives of children.”
Please access report here: Kenya Report
About ACPF
African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) is an independent, not-for-profit Pan-African centre of policy research and advocacy centre on the African child. It was established in 2003 out of concern about the situation of the African child and the need for Africans to recognise their responsibility to collectively ensure the realisation of all rights to all children. More information please visit our website at www.africanchildforum.org