By Lenah Bosibori
The Kenya Union of the Blind (KUB) on Monday joined the global community of 253 million blind and partially sighted people in unveiling the Smart White Cane that aims to enhance their safety and independence across Kenya.
Speaking in Nairobi during the launch and the commemoration of the White Cane Safety Day 2024, Jackson Agufana KUB Chief Executive Officer said that the Smart Cane innovation is a new white cane device that uses ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles up to 3 meters radius while outdoors and 1.8 meters while indoors.
“For many years, the traditional white cane has served as a vital aid for millions of blind and visually impaired individuals, symbolizing their independence and confidence in navigating their surroundings, however as the world advances technologically, so too must the tools that empower people with disabilities,” said Agufana.
According to Agufana, the Smart White Cane has an Ultrasonic sensor that detects obstacles beyond the reach of a traditional white cane, offering enhanced safety. It also has vibration and tactile feedback to alert users of objects in their path, enabling better situational awareness.
“This device will greatly assist individuals in navigating not only urban environments where traffic and infrastructure can be hazardous but also in rural areas where accessibility is often limited,” shares Agufana “The smart cane represents a new era of mobility helping to eliminate many of the physical barriers that have historically limited the independence of individuals who are blind or partially sighted.”
He further added that the new smart white cane can be accessed from the union’s offices for Sh 7,000 depending on the fluctuations of the dollar since they are imported from China and Australia.
“We look forward to having a manufacturing plant here in Kenya so that we can lower the cost of accessing the Smart White Cane, this will help us distribute to our neighbours in Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan as they currently purchase through us, this shows that we already have a ready market,” said Agufana.
In addition, the Union also launched a campaign aimed at distributing 100,000 white canes to persons with visual impairments across Kenya within the next 1,000 days. “This bold initiative seeks to kick off the journey towards ending the White Cane Famine in Kenya,” added Agufana.
“The ‘100,000 White Canes in 1,000 Days campaign is a response to this gap, and it reflects our commitment to ensuring that every person with a visual impairment can live a life of dignity and independence,” said Agufana.
Further, the Union launched ‘Jisajili Ujulikane wewe ni VIP’ initiative that targets to register more blind and visually impaired persons across the country, currently according to Agufana, the Union has a total of 40,000 blind and visually impaired persons registered with the union and they target to reach 100,000 by the first quarter of 2025.
The initiative uses a USSD Code *678# and it targets every blind and visually impaired person who are difficult to reach, it aims to have a database so that they can benefit from the services offered at the Union.
“Finding visually impaired people is not easy, we are unveiling the registration through a special USSD Code which anyone can access anywhere using a smartphone or a feature phone accessed through *678#.
During this week’s commemoration of International White Cane Day, Agufana highlighted the significance of the white cane as an essential tool for the visually impaired. He stressed that the cane plays a crucial role in enabling blind and partially sighted individuals to navigate their surroundings safely and independently in their daily live
“White Cane Safety Day is a day set aside to raise the challenges faced by the blind, a white cane is a symbol of independence and dignity that allows blind and partially sighted people to navigate their environment with confidence,” he added.
The union further called upon all Kenyans to respect and support individuals who use white canes by creating an environment where their safety and mobility is assured.
Despite the progress that Kenya has made in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, blind and partially sighted Kenyans continue to face various challenges, many public places remain inaccessible and road safety for white cane users is often compromised due to a lack of awareness among motorists and pedestrians
Poor infostructures including high walks and pedestrian crossing pose consistent hazards, KUB urges the government to prioritize the development of and enforcement of policies that improve accessibility and safety of people with disabilities, safe pedestrian crossways, accessible walkways
“We are calling for collective action from the government, private sector, and the public to ensure both initiatives are successful. These efforts are seen as essential steps toward building a more inclusive society where every visually impaired person has the freedom to move independently,” he reiterates.