918,270 people living with disabilities

More women are living with disabilities compared to men.

In the latest census report released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the population of women with disability is 523,883 compared to 394,330 men, with majority living in the rural areas.

The census that covered those aged five years and above shows that out of 918,270 persons with disability, only 179,492 live in urban areas.

The census conducted last year captured lack of mobility as the leading disability, followed by those visually impaired and cognition.

Those aged five years and above were asked questions touching on hearing, mobility, visual, cognition, self-care and communication.

Meru County is leading in the number of the disabled, with a population of 49,815, out of which 19,508 are visually impaired while 19,281 have issues to do with mobility.

Other counties are Kakamega (47,919), Kiambu (44,519), Nairobi (42,703), Homa Bay (42,181), Kisumu (39,929), Kisii (36,355, Murang’a (35,144), Siaya (35,580) and Nakuru at 33,933. The women in Gatundu North, Githunguri and Juja in the number with hearing disability.

However, in terms of percentages of populations, Embu County with a population of 543,425 is at 4.4 per cent of those living with disabilities, followed by Homa Bay (4.3 per cent), Makueni (4.1), Siaya (4.1) and Kisumu (4.0).

Counties with lower percentages are mainly the pastoralist areas such as Wajir (0.6 per cent), Narok (0.9 per cent), Kajiado (1.1), Turkana (1.0 per cent) and Marsabit (0.8 per cent).

The report puts the number of people with albinism at 9,729 out of whom 7,470 are living in the rural and the remaining 2,259 in urban areas.

Meru County is leading with 563, Kakamega 568, Nairobi 525 and Garissa 514. Isiolo has only 20 people living with albinism, Nyandarua 75, Samburu 36 and Elgeyo Marakwet 46.