Accessibility Policy and Standards

In 2022, Kenya became the first African country to establish a national standard for accessible ICT, KS2952:2022, developed under the leadership of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and inABLE. The Kenyan experience offers practical lessons on how to bring together standards bodies, technical experts, government, industry, and people with disabilities to develop accessibility requirements that respond to real-world needs.

Building on KS2952, the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) and inABLE, together with persons with disabilities and various stakeholders, are developing Africa’s harmonised accessibility standard for ICT products and services. The process combines African leadership with global best practice, including the European Union's Accessibility Standards for ICT Products and Services (EN 301 549).

A unified African ICT Accessibility Standard will ensure that as African countries invest in technology, accessibility is built in from the start and create a common approach that works across borders. Once approved, ARSO's 45 member countries can adopt or reference the standard creating a more consistent, inclusive digital environment across the continent, and allowing digital products to be sold across borders under a single, shared compliance requirement.