The NCPWD caution on the unregistered disability organisation has set many parents, PwD, as well as the general public, on the alert over the organisation that claims to be operating under the guise of a legitimate disability organisation in the country.
In a notice issued last week but bearing a date of January 21, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) issued a national caution about dealings with an organization that uses the name National Council for Parents of Children with Disabilities in Kenya, but is neither registered nor linked to the main council.
According to NCPWD, the similar sounding names with their organization have the potential to deceive parties into thinking that we are a government agency or a partner. However, such deception, the council emphasized, may leave many unsuspecting families at greater risk of exploitation and misuse of sensitive personal information.
“The similarity in nomenclature is likely to occasion confusion among parents, persons living with disabilities, relevant stakeholders, and the general public, who may associate the group with a Government body/formally affiliated with the NCPWD,” the notice read.
NCPWD Warning on Unregistered Disability Organisation Highlights Legal Mandate
The warning from the NCPWD regarding an unregistered disability organisation confirms the following: “only the National Council for Persons with Disabilities is mandated through the Persons With Disabilities Act to register persons with disabilities and issue disability registration cards; mainstream disability throughout government; and advise the State on policy and programs regarding persons with disabilities.”
Although it recognised the significance of the role of parents associations and civil society in facilitating the realisation of the rights of the PWD, it emphasized that it can do so in an ethical, transparent, and legally compliant manner. Any misrepresentation of the persons with disabilities and their families, as asserted by NCPWD, would simply be disallowed.
It is to be understood that following these interactions with the officials of the organization, NCPWD realized that the organization was not registered with any authorized agency.
It is to be noted that a number of directives were given as a part of NCPWD issuing a warning regarding an unregistered disability organization.
They were also asked to come up with a new name for the group that distinguished it from NCPWD, examine its objectives to ascertain whether they were similar to the legislative mandate of the council, and carry out registration with relevant authorities before enrolling members or undertaking any operations.
“These moves remain critical to ensuring accountability; thus, ensuring public trust is sustained,” NCPWD Executive Director/CCEO Michael Munene said of the steps above.
He added that the NCPWD warning on an unregistered disability organisation is meant for the protection of critical personal information of Persons with Disabilities and their families as well.
The council also cautioned the public to act prudently by checking the legitimacy of these entities prior to sharing personal information with them, to ensure that these associations are well registered with the correct Kenyan standards.
All organisations established by or for persons with disabilities shall be registered in NCPWD in accordance with the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025.
Furthermore, this law enhances the role and authority of the council to inspect organisations, direct the organisations to make any adjustments to promote accessibility, and institute proceedings against any failure to comply with the provisions of this Act on the part of any organisation that has been registered.
Organisations that have been registered stand to benefit even in terms of being exempted from taxes. In a move to reaffirm its stand, and reacting to claims made against it by different entities, NCPWD said that while its warning on a disabled organisation’s lack of registration may dissuage some from entering into partnership with it.
This does not mean that it discourages true partnership and collaborations with parents, civil society, and other relevant entities in a lawful and transparent manner in pursuit of a society that is barrier-free and where the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities are upheld in Kenya.
