Under the bright Nairobi sun at Dagoretti Special School on the Kawangware-Kikuyu road, the sound of laughter, music, and cheers filled the air. Children raced through obstacle courses, others painted with their siblings, and a few clutched balloons tighter than their fears. For over 100 children with disabilities, this wasn’t just another Wednesday, it was a day to be seen, to belong, and most importantly, to play.
This was the second edition of the International Day of Play, hosted by The Action Foundation, a Kenyan non-profit working to advance the rights and wellbeing of children with disabilities. But more than a celebration, the day was a bold statement: Every child deserves to play and thrive.
“Play is therapy. Play is dignity. Play is for everyone,” said Maria Omare, the founder and executive director of The Action Foundation.
“In the communities we serve from Kibera to Mathare to Mukuru, children with disabilities are still being hidden away. This day is about bringing them out, giving them space to be children.”
Founded in 2009, The Action Foundation has reached more than 25,000 children and their families across Nairobi and beyond. But the need remains enormous. Many children in Kenya with disabilities still go unidentified until it’s too late for early intervention. Those who are diagnosed often have no access to affordable therapy or inclusive education.
“Less than 15% of the children we identify participate in any form of play,” Omare explained. “There’s a deep-rooted stigma, and families sometimes struggle to even accept their own child’s condition. Without early identification, the chances for timely support diminish.”
That’s where the foundation steps in not just by organizing events, but by going door to door, holding community health screenings, partnering with county governments, and creating safe spaces in the heart of Nairobi’s informal settlements. At Dagoretti, the results of this long-term commitment were visible in the joy and pride radiating from children and their families.
For Michael Mwangi, the Head of Occupational Therapy at Nairobi County and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, the day had a deeply professional and personal meaning. He has spent decades working with children who require long-term rehabilitation, children who need more than medication or schoolbooks.
“A child’s first occupation is play,” he said. “It’s through play that they develop motor skills, social interaction, even emotional regulation. When you take that away, you’re not just robbing a child of fun, you’re stunting their growth.”
But therapy, as he points out, is not cheap. A child with cerebral palsy, for instance, may need multiple therapy sessions per week for over a decade. The financial toll on families can be devastating.
“It’s a full-time commitment, not just financially but emotionally,” he said. “That’s why partners like The Action Foundation are vital. They’re filling a gap that should not exist — one that government and society must urgently address.”
This year’s event came on the heels of a historic moment — the passing of the 2025 Persons with Disabilities Act, which for the first time recognizes caregivers of children with disabilities and provides a legal roadmap for support services.
“Yes, it’s a big win,” said Omare. “But now we need to push for actual funding, community-level awareness, and full implementation. A law without action changes nothing.”
Omare believes true progress will require more than legal documents. It will require political will, consistent funding, and most importantly, a shift in how society sees — and values — children with disabilities.
At Dagoretti Special School, Francis Omanyala, the Principal and also the National Chairman of Special Needs Sports Kenya, sees sport as more than a recreational activity — it’s a pathway to opportunity.
“Our learners are not less. They just need different routes,” he said.
“Through sports, they learn coordination, self-discipline, teamwork. Some may never become doctors or engineers, but they can be national athletes, coaches, leaders.”
Omanyala emphasized that Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) already includes a sports pathway for learners with disabilities — but more support is needed to turn this potential into reality.
“We need more investment in play and sport for these learners. It could change lives, entire families, even communities,” he said.
From Hidden to Celebrated
As the day wound down, children headed home — some in wheelchairs, others holding hands with their parents and siblings. But all carried with them something intangible: the joy of being included.
For a child who has long been excluded from school, from playgrounds, from society — this single day of play is more than a moment. It is a memory. A beginning. A promise.
“We’re not just here for one day of fun,” said Omare. “We’re here to say: you matter. You belong. And we will keep showing up until every child with a disability is seen, supported, and celebrated.”
