The political fever in the country caught me and I found myself searching on YouTube whether there has ever been a president who had a disability. I found two. One, Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the United States of America and Joseph Stalin of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR, modern day Russia. Both men ruled opposite sides of the world but came together to discuss World War II and the post war World as envisaged by Roosevelt, whose vision became the United Nations Organisation with America and Russia being permanent and veto members.
Roosevelt was a polio survivor who became permanently disabled after the experience. What made it difficult was the transition and experience from physical fitness to disability, since he acquired the disability well into his adulthood. The thought of being unable to walk unaided was disturbing to him and he had to take a break from his public life as a politician. During the break, Roosevelt lived in denial of his condition until he finally decided to embrace it and making necessary adjustments to fit into his new life. At one point he tried using calipers but they proved very exhausting and he had to use a wheelchair, which was just a chair fixed on wheels.
Wheelchair used by Franklin Delano Roosevelt the 32nd President of the United States of America.
Despite his disability, FDR presided over the hardest economic time in recorded history. FDR came to power in 1932 when the Great Depression had just hit. Just like the covid times, people lost jobs and life became miserable only that the Great Depression was an economic problem not a health crisis. He embarked on massive infrastructure projects to stimulate the economy and create jobs for the masses, in what he called the New Deal, much like what we have in Kenya as the Big Four Agenda. FDR was also involved in the world war 2 after the US was bombed by Japan In what came to be known as the Pearl Harbour attack.
Roosevelt's success in the political field was made necessary out of his courage to face situations as they were and keeping his condition a secret. Only his aides knew he couldn't walk and journalists knew the best camera angle that wouldn't give his secret away. Roosevelt inspired America to believe in itself, reckoning "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself".
In the midst of the political temperatures in Kenya, it's necessary to ask, is the ground conducive for political aspirants with disabilities? Studies after studies have shown how difficult it is for women to run for political office in the country. If the challenges listed are anything to go by, what of candidates with disabilities? Sure, there may be nominated slots for PWDs but do PWDs themselves understand how nomination candidates are selected and appointed? It doesn't help matters that other aspirants use disability to endear themselves to the masses to be seen as down to earth without proper support for aspirants who are PWDs to build themselves up in the political party. Some parties in the country have scrapped the nomination fees for aspirants with disabilities which is a good thing for now but how else are the political parties propping PWDs in the political space? For the case of Roosevelt, he was always at the forefront. Not curtain raising for the big politicians as is the case in Kenya. He only curtain raised once for a candidate who later lost the election. Do the political parties in Kenya help with sensitization of its supporters against attitudinal barriers facing aspirants with disabilities? What about logistics? And how do the "disability leagues" function in these political parties?
For the first time in our country, we will have a presidential aspirant who is a PWD on the ballot. A big step forward but then comes the big question. Is the system made for someone like him to ascend to the highest political office in the land? For instance, how often Is the candidate covered in the media? How does the media protect him from negative narratives arising from his loss of sight? Is he accorded state security as he campaigns?
The Political Parties Act of 2022 which was recently signed into law by the President mandates the political entities to actively look for and support PWDs in their political participation. This means that the changes that political actors have been asking for will be a right to everyone involved in political matters and not a privilege given to a few individuals in the political parties.
In the meantime, best of luck to all aspirants who are PWDs. As Barrack Obama used to say "Yes you can". The race is not for the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but time and chance happen to them all. Go for it.
