This was as a result of intense lobbying by the Panafrican disability movement - Panafrican Federation of the Disabled and its national disability affiliates. This decade was officially launched on December 3, last year and also coincided with the United Nations day of disabled persons.

It is hoped that the decade will present a unique opportunity for the African continent not only to take stock of its performance in addressing disability and its attendant issues but also reflect on the emerging challenges posed by disabilities in the new millennium. On the home front, what is the Kenya Government doing or putting in place regarding this decade? Will it be another wasted decade for Kenya?

Africa has, in the recent past, witnessed unprecedented decline in health care and general development owing to social and economic reform measures such as structural adjustment programmes and the new regenerated diseases and epidemics like HIV/Aids.

Disability is on the rise due to instability and armed conflicts, which result from bad governance and the use of anti-personnel mines, malnutrition and accidents, among other factors.

To most governments in Africa, Kenya included, disability is and has never been a priority issue in development planning. After all, it is not an emergency, they reason.

Were Masakhwe,

Nairobi.