Persons with disabilities across Kenya have been urged to apply for tax exemption as a multi-agency team begins a nationwide exercise to verify applicants’ eligibility.
The exercise, led by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), is being conducted over one month in 12 designated counties and targets people with disabilities working in both the formal and informal sectors.
The verification exercise began in Kisii, where more than 400 applicants had been assessed during the initial phase.
Speaking at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, NCPWD Chief Executive Officer Dr Michael Munene said the programme is intended to ensure eligible persons with disabilities can access tax relief provided for under the law.
Munene described the exercise as an opportunity for PWDs to have their eligibility assessed and encouraged those who qualify to submit their applications.
How PWDs can apply for tax exemption
The tax exemption application process has been digitised through the e-Citizen platform.
Applicants are required to submit their applications online before appearing physically for verification and assessment.
During the physical assessment, applicants must provide the required identification and supporting documents.
The assessment team said applicants should carry their national identity cards.
For minors with disabilities, a birth certificate is required and the child must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or next of kin.
Applicants may also be required to provide evidence relating to their income and tax compliance as part of the verification process.
What officials are checking
Kisii NCPWD officer Gabriella Ogom said the verification process involves examining an applicant’s registration as a person with disability, proof of income and tax compliance status.
The process is intended to establish whether applicants meet the conditions required to benefit from tax exemption.
Ogom said applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements will have the right to appeal the assessment decision.
She said the appeals mechanism is intended to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and provide an avenue for applicants to challenge decisions they believe are unfair.
Government targets wider PWD tax relief access
Munene said Kisii was selected as a strategic centre because it serves residents from more than seven neighbouring counties.
He urged persons with disabilities in the designated counties to take advantage of the verification exercise rather than wait until the programme ends.
The NCPWD CEO also said the government was in the final stages of operationalising the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, which is expected to strengthen human rights protections and improve enforcement of disability-related laws.
Verification to support government planning
Shem Onserio, head of the assessment team at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, encouraged more persons with disabilities to participate in the exercise.
He said accurate verification would not only facilitate access to tax exemption but also help the government obtain reliable information for planning programmes targeting PWDs.
The exercise is expected to continue in the 12 designated counties as government agencies work to identify eligible beneficiaries and ensure that persons with disabilities can access the tax relief available under Kenyan law.
