What is Disability-Related Cost and Who is Paying for it?

What is Disability-Related Cost and Who is Paying for it?

For many, the concept of "tax" is straightforward – a percentage of income or goods paid to the government. But for individuals with disabilities, there's another, often unseen, financial burden at play: disability-related costs. These aren't government levies, but rather the cumulative, often unavoidable, additional expenses.

It's crucial to understand that disability-related costs are not an actual government tax. You don't pay them to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). However, they function like a tax because they significantly reduce the disposable income of individuals with disabilities like how income tax or sales tax reduces everyone's disposable income. The key difference is that these costs are imposed by the practical realities and societal barriers faced by persons with disabilities, rather than by a government's fiscal policy.

This financial weight chips away at disposable income, limits opportunities, and can perpetuate cycles of poverty. These costs manifest in countless ways across various aspects of daily life, impacting not only the individual with a disability but also their families and caregivers.

Real-World Examples of Disability-Related Costs

1. Transport

• A commuter with a wheelchair may have to rely on taxis or ride-hailing services because matatus are inaccessible. This can multiply their daily costs by three or four times.
• Extra travel time, often hours longer, becomes another hidden bill paid in exhaustion.

2. Assistive Technology

• Essential devices such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, hearing aids, or screen readers come with high purchase prices that most families cannot afford.
• Maintenance and repairs are frequent and costly, with limited local providers and little or no insurance coverage.
• Imported devices often face high duties or limited availability, forcing families to spend more for basic independence

3. Education

• Families may need to pay higher fees for schools with inclusive facilities.
• Learning materials in Braille, sign language interpretation, or digital formats often cost more and take longer to access.

Who Pays for Disability- Related Tax?

The primary bearers of disability-related costs are, of course, persons with disabilities themselves. The already limited incomes, often impacted by employment barriers and discrimination, are further strained by these unavoidable expenses. According to various reports, peesons with disabilities in Kenya are significantly more likely to live in poverty due to diverse barriers.

These costs add up not only financially, but also in lost opportunities, stalled careers, and reduced independence. The result is a cycle where disability is made more expensive by exclusionary systems.

However, the burden doesn't stop there. Families and caregivers play a crucial role and often shoulder a significant portion of these costs. They might sacrifice career opportunities to provide care, incur direct expenses for equipment and services, or spend countless hours navigating complex systems to access support. The recently assented Persons with Disabilities Act 2025 in Kenya acknowledges this by offering tax exemptions to caregivers, aiming to alleviate some of their financial strain.

Article by: Maryanne Emomeri