Kenya
From AASL
| Name of the country/area | Kenya |
|---|---|
| Formal name of the country/area | Republic of Kenya |
| Country/area information | The World Factbook (CIA) |
| Wikipedia (English) |
Indigenous signs for "Kenya"
Illustrations in the literature
"Kenya" (In: Japanese Federation of the Deaf ed. Supervisor: Hedberg, Tomas. 2003. Country name-signs. Helsinki, Finland: World Federation of the Deaf. 96.)
Spoken languages
English
Swahili
Sign languages
Related sign languages:
Belgian Sign Language (in one school only)
British Sign Language (in one school only)
Population of Deaf/deaf people
The population of the signers of Kenyan Sign Language: 340,000(2007 DOOR), increasing. (Ethnologue web edition)
Legal status of sign languages
- Status of the National Sign Language(s) from WFD. 2008. Global Survey Report. (See Bibliography below).
1. The government recognises the country's sign language(s) in : the Legislation, Policy.
2. The year when the country’s government formally recognises the country’s sign language(s): Sign Language recognition was drafted in the Constitution but rejected by the majority of Kenyans in the Referendum of 2005 because the Constitution did not reflect their views.
3. Deaf Association/Deaf Group lobbies the government for the recognition of the country’s sign language(s)
- Sign language for deaf people has no officially recognized status, is not used as the official language of deaf people and is not recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. (Government Implementation of the Standard Rules As Seen By Member Organizations of World Federation of the Deaf – WFD : Kenya National Association of the Deaf, Kenya , 1997.)
Organizations and associations of the Deaf/deaf
Kenya National Association of the Deaf (KNAD) (WFD member; established in 1986. (WFD. 2008. Global Survey Report. : See Bibliography below.))
Institutes, associations and universities for sign language studies
Education for the Deaf
Enabling deaf young people from the streets and slums of Nairobi, Kenya, to access education
Deaf Children with Additional Disabilities in Developing Countries :Kenya
- Access to Education from WFD. 2008. Global Survey Report. (See Bibliography below).
1.The government recognizes that Deaf children and Deaf students have the right to receive an education.
2.Legislation or policies on Deaf Education:
- Special Education Policy
- Disability Act
3.The government provides those educational settings for Deaf children and Deaf students:
- Early intervention (Up to 5 years old)
- Kindergarten (Between 3/4 years old to 5/6 years old)
- Primary (From 5/6 years old to 12/13 years old)
- Secondary (From 12/13 years old to 17/18 years old)
- University (After 18 years old)
- Vocational Education/Training
4.The government provides bilingual education using the country’s sign language(s) for Deaf children and Deaf students in those educational settings:
- Early intervention (Up to 5 years old)
- Kindergarten (Between 3/4 years old to 5/6 years old)
- Primary (From 5/6 years old to 12/13 years old)
- Secondary (From 12/13 years old to 17/18 years old)
- Vocational Education/Training
5.Total number of schools specifically for Deaf children and Deaf students in the country, and the educational approach for communicating with Deaf children and students at the Deaf School:
- 40 residential primary schools for the Deaf and 30 Deaf Primary Units, three Secondary Schools for the Deaf,four Vocational Training Centres and a number of Vocational Workshops in some primary schools for the deaf in rural areas
- Bilingual Education
- Oral Method
- Oral and Sign Language (Total Communication)
6.Deaf people’s access to a University education and sign language interpreting services at University:
- Three Public Universities, however most Deaf people never reach the admission level. : Sign language interpreting services are available.
Sign language interpretation
- There is an association of sign language interpreters in Australia. from WASLI Activities Report 2007-2011 (See Bibliography below).
- Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services from WFD. 2008. Global Survey Report. (See Bibliography below).
1.The number of sign language interpreters in the country:
- 20 interpreters
2. Sign language interpreting qualifications:
- None
3.The provier of the sign language interpreting services:
- National Association of the Deaf
4.The area of life sign language interpreting services are available:
- Social Services
- Health/Medical Services
- Employment Services
- Court Services
- Educational Services
- Counselling Services
- Financial Institutions
- Funerals/Weddings
- Entertainment
5.The payment for interpreting services, and those who are responsible for paying:
- Sign language interpreters receive payment for interpreting services
- Government pays
- National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group pays
- Deaf people pay
6.The average hourly rate of payment for sign language interpreters:
- Rates vary depending on the ability of the organisers to pay; they range from USD65.00 to USD85.00 per day (42.65€ to 54.75€ on 31st May 2008).
7.Sign language interpreters sometimes provide voluntary service for sign language interpreting assignments.
8.National Association of Sign Language Interpreters is independent from the National Association of the Deaf.
9.National Code of Ethics for sign language interpreters:
- None
10.Legislation or policy in the country which states that the government has a responsibility for the provision of sign language :
- Disability Act Misc 39. Accessibility - 21, Rights and Privileges - 19, Polling Sec - 30. There are other sections in the Rights and Privileges and Civic Rights, Miscellaneous, Offences and Penalties of the Act. These authorise the government to provide sign language interpreting services but have not been enforced.
Deaf communities and cultures
Religious activities by the Deaf
Famous Deaf persons and hearing persons concerned with sign languages
Sign language dictionaries
Akach, Philemon A.O. 2001. Kenyan Sign Language dictionary (Revised). Nairobi: Kenya National Association for the Deaf.
Akach, Philemon A.O. 1991. Kenyan Sign Language dictionary. Nairobi: Kenya National Association for the Deaf.
Bibliography
Morgan, Hope. 2016. Language From Gesture: A Case Study From East Africa. Oral presentation at Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research Conference (TISLR 12).
Burichani, Evans Namasaka. Kenyan Sign Language Variations in Somali-Dominant Area. Oral presentation at WOCAL8. 23 Aug. 2015. Kyoto, Japan.
Miyamoto, Ritsuko and Mori, Soya. Is Kenyan sign language a sister language of ASL. Oral presentation at WOCAL8. 23 Aug. 2015. Kyoto, Japan.
Mulama, Benard Ochieng'. Advancement of Education for the Deaf by the Change of Examination System in Kenya. Oral presentation at WOCAL8. 23 Aug. 2015. Kyoto, Japan.
Ng'ang'a, Veronica Wanjiku. Influence of Spoken Languages on Kenyan Sign Language. Oral presentation at WOCAL8. 23 Aug. 2015. Kyoto, Japan.
Owiti, Jack. Road to legal recognition of Kenyan sign language. Oral presentation at WOCAL8. 23 Aug. 2015. Kyoto, Japan.
Morgan, Hope. 2013. Rightward movement of wh-elements in Japanese Sign Language: A preliminary study. Poster presentation at Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research (TISLR11)
Morgan, Hope. 2013. Spatial Agreement and Word Order in Kenyan Sign Language. Poster presentation at Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research (TISLR11)
WASLI (World Association of Sign Language Interpreters). 2011. WASLI Activities Report 2007-2011. Kampala, UGANDA.
Morgan, Hope and Rachel Mayberry. 2010. The handshape parameter in Kenyan Sign Language. Presentation at the Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research Conference (TISLR 10).
World Federation of the Deaf and Swedish National Association of the Deaf. 2008. Global Survey Report. WFD Regional Secretariat for Southern and Eastern Africa (WFD RSESA). Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People. World Federation of the Deaf. Finland.
Wright, Sarah. 2007. "There are none so deaf …" In : EQ(Educational Quality in the Developing World) Review. vol.4, No.5. January 2007. 2-3.
Guberman, Julie A. 2005=2006. Exploring Deaf and Hearing Language Contact Situations in Kenya. In: Sign Language Communication Studies (Japan Institute for Sign Language Studies, Japanese Federation of the Deaf) 59(2006.03) :68-69.(translated by Kamei, Nobutaka. in Japanese)[ Report of American Anthropological Association 104th Annual Meeting Washington DC Dec. 1. 2005 7:45 PM–9:30 PM. "Endangered World Languages : Sign Languages and Their Variations"]
Kamei, Nobutaka. 2005. Special interview, Toward the African Union of the Deaf: Mr Nickson Ochieng Kakiri from Kenya talks. In: Sign Language Communication Studies (Japan Institute for Sign Language Studies, Japanese Federation of the Deaf) 57(2005.09) :47-49.
Kamei, Nobutaka. 2005. The Deaf in Africa (10) :Teacher training by the Deaf Foster generation of today. In: Sign Language Communication Studies (Japan Institute for Sign Language Studies, Japanese Federation of the Deaf) 57(2005.09) :41-47
WASLI (World Association of Sign Language Interpreters). 2005. Kenya. In: Country report 2005. 22. Kampala, Uganda
Kenya society for Deaf children. 2004. Our rights : handbook for children. Nairobi : Kenya Society for Deaf children(KSDC).
Kenya society for Deaf children. 2004. Children Act 2001 : Information for parents and service providers. Nairobi : Kenya Society for Deaf children(KSDC).
Omondi, Joel and Washington Akaranga. 2004. Healthy…Deaf children. Nairobi : National Deaf aids education programme(KNDAEP)
Kenya Institute of Education. 2002. Kenyan sign Language for Schools (4th Edition), Nairobi, Kenya Institute of Education.
Kenya sign Language research project. 1998. KSL vocabulary pamphlets.(Time). University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya sign Language research project. 1998. KSL vocabulary pamphlets.(Family).University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya sign Language research project. 1998. KSL vocabulary pamphlets.(animals).University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Olson, Jack. 1995. Bondo, Kenya. In : Olson, Jack ed. Deaf Communities, A Worldwide Perspective. Hillsboro, OR : Butte Publications. 64-73.
Akach, Philemon A.O. 1992. News from Kenya. In : Signpost. summer 1992. 54-56.
Akach, Philemon. 1992. The use of Sign Language in Schools in Kenya. In: Finnish Association of the Deaf ed. East African sign language seminar, Debre Zeit, Ethoipia, August 10-16,1990. Helsinki: Finnish Association of the Deaf. 87-88.
Okombo, Okoth. 1992. Linguistics and the Liberation of the Kenyan Deaf: Som Research Agenda for Sign Language Developers. In: Finnish Association of the Deaf ed. East African sign language seminar, Debre Zeit, Ethoipia, August 10-16,1990. Helsinki: Finnish Association of the Deaf. 58-60
Yego, Emily. 1992. The Status of Sign Language in the Teaching of the Deaf and Measures for Improvement in Kenya. In: Finnish Association of the Deaf ed. East African sign language seminar, Debre Zeit, Ethoipia, August 10-16,1990. Helsinki: Finnish Association of the Deaf. 31-38.
Akach, Philemon A.O. 1991. Sentence types in Kenya Sign Language. Unpublished M.A. dissertation. University of Nairobi.
Akach, Philemon A.O. 1988. Communication of the Deaf in Kenya. Pro-seminar work in special education. Unpublished B.A. special education dissertation. Finland : University of Jyaskyla.
Ndurumo, Michael M. 1987. Development and implementation of sign language in Kenya. In : Proceedings of the X world congress of the World Federation of the Deaf. Helsinki: The Finnish Association of the Deaf.
Abilla, Catherine M. 1987. Kenya. In : Van Cleve, John V. (editor in chief), Gallaudet College eds. Gallaudet encyclopedia of deaf people and deafness. New York : McGraw-Hill. vol.2. 127-129.
Researchers
History of sign language research
Events
Links
Deaf cultures and Sign Languages of the world: Kenya
Kenya Sign Language Interpreters Association (KSLIA)
Demonstration of KSL CD developed by Peace Corps Volunteers working in Kenya.
Easy To Learn Kenyan/Zambian Sign Language poster
Making a Difference in Kenya. Report from a US volunteer visiting Kenya to work with the Deaf community through an NGO.
Notes
| Africa (general) | Africa (general) |
|---|---|
| North Africa | Algeria | Egypt | Libya | Morocco | Tunisia |
| West Africa | Benin | Burkina Faso | Cote d'Ivoire | Gambia | Ghana | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Liberia | Mali | Mauritania | Niger | Nigeria | Senegal | Sierra Leone | Togo |
| Island states in the Atlantic Ocean | Cape Verde | Sao Tome and Principe |
| Central Africa | Burundi | Cameroon | Central African Republic | Chad | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Equatorial Guinea | Gabon | Republic of the Congo | Rwanda |
| East Africa | Djibouti | Eritrea | Ethiopia | Kenya | Somalia | South Sudan | Sudan | Tanzania | Uganda |
| Southern Africa | Angola | Botswana | Lesotho | Malawi | Mozambique | Namibia | South Africa | Swaziland | Zambia | Zimbabwe |
| Island states in the Indian Ocean | Comoros | Madagascar | Mauritius | Seychelles |
| Areas and others | Western Sahara |
