Stephen Cherunolo
Overview
Stephen Cherunolo (1975–) is a disability rights activist and lawyer from Kenya. Overcoming visual impairment, he studied law and obtained a lawyer's license, and has since worked to promote social participation and protect the rights of persons with disabilities across the African continent. Cherunolo has led campaigns urging the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and provided advice to the Kenyan government on disability policy formulation, contributing to the advancement of disability rights at both international and regional levels.
Main Content
Early Life and Education
Stephen Cherunolo was born in a small town in western Kenya. He lost his sight due to illness in childhood but continued his education with family support and his own determination. After completing primary and secondary education at a special school in Kenya, he studied law at the University of Nairobi. During his university years, he experienced a lack of support systems for students with disabilities, which motivated him to later engage in disability rights activism. He earned his law degree in 2000 and passed the Kenyan bar exam.
Disability Rights Activism
After obtaining his lawyer's license, Cherunolo joined the Kenya Disability Rights Network and began his activities. He focused on legal and social discrimination faced by persons with disabilities, particularly working to ensure rights to education, employment, and political participation. In 2008, he led a campaign pressuring the Kenyan government to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The convention was ratified in Kenya in 2010, and Cherunolo subsequently served as a member of the committee monitoring its implementation.
International Activities
Cherunolo's activities expanded across the African continent. He was a founding member of the African Disability Forum and contributed to the African Union's (AU) disability policy formulation. In 2015, he was elected as a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, serving until 2019. During this period, he assessed the disability rights situation in various countries and made recommendations to governments. He particularly emphasized the poverty and exclusion faced by persons with disabilities in developing countries and urged the inclusion of disability in international development cooperation.
Major Achievements
- Amendment of the Kenya Disability Act: In 2012, Cherunolo led the amendment of the Kenya Disability Act, strengthening employment quotas for persons with disabilities, accessibility standards, and anti-discrimination provisions.
- Campaign for Voting Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Ahead of the 2013 Kenyan general election, he campaigned to ensure access to polling stations for persons with disabilities, resulting in the installation of ramps and braille ballots in over 30% of polling stations nationwide.
- Improvement of Educational Accessibility: He collaborated with the Kenyan government to increase the special education budget by 20% and equip over 500 schools with facilities for students with disabilities.
Writings and Lectures
Cherunolo has published several papers and reports on disability rights. His representative work includes the book Invisible Barriers: The Struggle of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (2018), which vividly depicts the reality of persons with disabilities in Africa and gained international attention. He has also lectured at forums such as the World Economic Forum and the UN Human Rights Council, raising awareness of the importance of disability rights.
Recent Developments
As of 2024, Stephen Cherunolo serves as an advisory member of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. He has recently focused on digital accessibility issues, promoting legislation requiring the Kenyan government to make public websites and mobile apps usable for persons with disabilities. In early 2025, he participated in the formulation of the African Union's 'Disability-Inclusive Development Strategy 2025-2030,' proposing measures to empower persons with disabilities through technology and innovation. He also issued a statement highlighting the deterioration of health rights and social service accessibility for persons with disabilities after the COVID-19 pandemic, urging the international community to respond. Recently, he has begun research on the impact of climate change on persons with disabilities, which is emerging as a new agenda in the African disability movement.
Related Topics
- [[Disability rights movement]]
- [[United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]]
- [[Human rights in Kenya]]
- [[African Union]]
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