CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA
Kenya Bankers Association
Launch of the Banking Industry Sign Language
Self-Training Mobile Application
Remarks by Dr. Patrick Njoroge
Governor, Central Bank of Kenya
Thursday, December 2, 2021
As Prepared for Delivery
Good morning! I am pleased to be part of the launch of the Deaf eLimu Banking
Application (app). My gratitude goes to the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) for
putting together this event and for the invitation to participate. I also extend my
appreciation to the Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Kenya and Deaf Elimu Plus
Limited for their partnership with KBA on this project. The choice of date for this
launch is apt, being a day before the world commemorates the International Day of
Persons with Disabilities.
I note with appreciation that my sentiments one year ago, during the launch of the
Persons with Disability Digital Access Report, were duly considered and executed. I
challenged the participants to provide tailor-made financial products that meet the
needs of persons with disabilities. I am informed that 31 commercial banks have
submitted their roadmaps on how they intend to implement the recommendations
made in the report. It is therefore exciting to be here today to launch an app that is
going to revolutionize banking for the hearing impaired.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 5 percent of the world’s
population (430 million people) are living with “disabling” hearing loss. This number
is envisaged to grow to over 700 million people (one in every ten people) by 2050. Of
this population, about 80 percent are people living in developing countries. In Kenya,
of the 900,000 (2.2 percent) persons with disabilities, 150,000 people (16 percent) are
living with hearing loss. This is a significant population, who are likely to be sidelined
due to the non-inclusivity of our systems. In Kenya, we pride ourselves in achieving
82.9 percent financial inclusion. However, only 0.5 percent of persons with
disabilities are part of these statistics.

This brings me to the barriers locking out persons living with disabilities from the
financial system. It is interesting to note that these barriers are rudimentary. They
include negative attitude, misunderstandings by both financial institutions as well as
their clients living with disabilities, unfavorable infrastructure such as lack of ramps
and having to endure long queues. It is therefore within our reach to break these
barriers and bring all persons with disabilities to the formal financial system. Allow
me now to focus on the reasons why it is paramount for the banking sector to deal
with these constraints and pave way for persons with disabilities to access financial
services.
First, it is our responsibility to ensure that we continually put people’s needs at the
core of banking business. This is one of the commitments that financial institutions
made through the adoption of the Kenya Banking Sector Charter (KBSC) issued in
2019. Customer centricity, which is the first pillar of the charter, not by accident, but
by design, should be at the heart of product development. Over the last few years,
financial institutions are increasingly tailoring their products and services to the needs
of their customers. This was especially the case during this period that we have been
dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. However, much more needs to be done
particularly in segmenting the markets deeper to understand the needs of persons with
disabilities. I am glad, this is already happening with the development of the Deaf
eLimu Banking App.
Second, we are on the road towards ensuring shared prosperity for all by 2030,
engrained in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This will only be achieved
through building sustainable and inclusive communities that foster inclusion and
equitable opportunities for all. It is now widely appreciated that businesses can only
be as successful as the societies they operate in and draw their existence from.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations are now paramount in
any organization’s strategy and operations. In this regard, ensuring that persons living
with disabilities have the same opportunities to access financial services is an
obligation that we have to step up to.
Third, the Kenyan Banking sector is known for its leading role in an array of areas
ranging from innovation to supporting broader societal good including in education,
health and the environment. This has spilled over to the East African region and
beyond where Kenyan banks are expanding their footprint. In the same breadth, the
banking sector should also lead in enhancing inclusion of persons with disabilities. Let
me take this opportunity to implore upon the other players in Kenya as well as in the
region to follow this path. This will move us a step closer towards achieving shared
prosperity for all.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), is also walking the talk. We are involved in
various initiatives in support of persons with disabilities. More specifically, CBK
supports St. Kizito Litein School for the Deaf. I will pause here for a brief video link
on this initiative.
The school came to the limelight when they won one of the CBK sponsored categories
during the 2016 Kenya Music Festival. As indicated in the clip, we have completed a
number of infrastructural developments at the school. This includes construction of a
dormitory, renovation works for their classes as well as provision of water storage
tanks.
As I draw to a close, we are collectively, taking the right steps. However, this is just a
starting point. Today the app has 100 phrases. For most spoken languages, the target
for a beginner is 250-500 words. With 1,000 – 3,000 words you can carry on a regular
conversation. I don’t know how this translates to sign language phrases for banking,
but my challenge to you is to work steadfastly to improve the scope of the app and
make it more useful for all. Let us also endeavor to incorporate the needs of all
categories of persons with disabilities in the banking sector. Indeed, a society is at its
best, when it leaves no one behind.
It is now my distinct pleasure to declare the Deaf eLimu Banking Application
officially launched.
Thank you.