THIKA, Kenya — Standing before students at Thika High School for the Visually Impaired, Reuben Kigame spoke with both gratitude and urgency. The gospel musician and 2027 presidential aspirant returned to his old school with a message: Kenya must do more to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Kigame, who lost his sight at the age of three, told the gathering that equality is not a favour. “Inclusivity is not charity but a constitutional right that strengthens the nation,” he said. “This is my call to action for Kenyans to embrace inclusivity and accessibility as a shared responsibility.”
He pressed the government to ensure the Constitution is available in Braille and to adopt disability-friendly design in all public buildings. He also urged that sign language be made compulsory in public spaces.
“Both government and private companies should invest in ICT tools and accessible buildings,” he said. “The IEBC should also provide facilities that allow people with disabilities to vote independently and securely.”
His message extended beyond politics. Kigame challenged banks to introduce Braille ATM cards and menus in restaurants to be made accessible to the visually impaired. He praised United Bank for Africa (UBA) for translating his own banking documents into Braille. “This should serve as a model for all service providers,” he said.
The visit was marked by the donation of new musical equipment to the school, through a joint effort by the Reuben Kigame Foundation, the Kenya Society for the Blind, UBA Bank and Eugina Park.
Ivan Omondi, who heads advocacy and corporate relations at the Kenya Society for the Blind, said the partnership was about more than charity. “Together with Kigame, we want to reaffirm our commitment to supporting education and empowering the visually impaired,” he said.
Kigame also turned his words to the students themselves, encouraging them to pursue skills that would help them live independently — from cooking and cleaning to starting businesses. He said more should be done to open up job opportunities for people with disabilities and to ensure timely funding for schools that support them.
The visit was both a homecoming and a political statement. Kigame, who has built a career as a singer, author and advocate, framed inclusivity as a test of Kenya’s moral and constitutional values. “We must strive to create a just society where every citizen can participate fully and equally,” he said.
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