Mombasa Buildings Shut Out Disabled People as Senators Demand Enforcement

Public buildings in Mombasa are still inaccessible to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), prompting sharp criticism from lawmakers who say weak enforcement and limited funding are undermining existing accessibility laws.

The concerns were raised during a session at Bunge Tower on Thursday, March 26, 2026, where the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare heard that several key facilities remain non-compliant. Among the buildings cited were Bima Towers, the Mombasa County Assembly, the Office of the Deputy County Commissioner, and the Mombasa Law Courts.

Committee chair Julius Murgor presided over the session, where petitioners argued that the lack of accessibility effectively locks out PWDs from essential public services. “Persons with disabilities are not accessing any of these buildings, an infringement of their constitutional rights,” said petitioner Zedekiah Adika.

Standards in Place, But Enforcement Lacking

Appearing before the committee, Alice Wahome acknowledged the scale of the problem but distanced her ministry from enforcement responsibility. She noted that while national standards such as the National Building Code (2024) exist, implementation lies with county governments.

“The ministry prepares standards, but enforcement is not our mandate,” Wahome said.

She revealed that technical teams—including engineers, architects, and quantity surveyors—have been deployed across all 47 counties. These teams are expected to inspect the affected buildings in Mombasa and submit a report by April 30 outlining compliance gaps, required remedial work, and associated costs.

However, Joe Nyutu questioned whether counties have the capacity to enforce regulations effectively, citing a shortage of technical personnel. Ministry officials admitted that both county governments and national agencies are constrained by limited staffing and funding.

Ownership Disputes Delay Progress

The committee’s vice-chair, Crystal Asige, raised concerns over unclear ownership of the non-compliant buildings, which has slowed corrective action.

Wahome said responsibility is spread across multiple institutions, including her ministry (Bima House), the Mombasa County Government, the Judiciary, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Senators argued that this fragmented ownership has blurred accountability and delayed enforcement.

Beth Syengo also sought an update on a KSh47.3 million tender for installing lifts at Bima House, first raised in December. The ministry pledged to verify the procurement status and report back.

Calls for Stronger Legal Backing

Lawmakers are now pushing for stronger enforcement mechanisms, including legal amendments to compel compliance within set timelines. Stewart Madzayo stressed the urgency of action, saying, “There must be a way to compel compliance.”

Officials indicated that amendments aimed at strengthening enforcement powers are under review, alongside efforts to harmonize national and county laws.

From Reports to Action

While a technical report is expected by the end of April, senators warned that reports alone will not solve the problem without concrete action and dedicated funding.

For many persons with disabilities, access to public buildings in Mombasa remains out of reach. Lawmakers cautioned that unless responsibility is clearly defined and enforced, constitutional guarantees of accessibility risk remaining largely theoretical.