We will now summarize the current status of those with disabilities in Africa, with Kenya as a starting point, in order to determine how disability studies in Africa should progress. Kenya in particular is worth examining first because it is considered one of the more progressive African countries when it comes to disability recognition and disability rights. Yet, even so, there is notable room for progress. In 2009 the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in Kenya reported that among Kenyan students with disabilities, 90 percent either did not go to school or did not receive minimal accommodations for their needs. The year 2009 was the last time the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology released this report, which means that about a decade's worth of the most updated information on Kenyan children with disabilities is missing. It is vital to uncover the most recent statistics in order to understand any improvements that have been made and to calculate what further improvements are still needed. The dearth of information on disabled children in Kenya reflects a greater problem. Research on disability affecting both children and adults in low-income countries is scarce, which means that research on disability affecting those of all ages across the African continent overall is scarce.

This fact is startling, considering how prevalent disability is in the world and specifically in Africa. In 2011, the World Report on Disability reported that the number of people with disabilities in the world rises as the world population ages. According to the United Nations, in Africa alone there are about eighty million people who have some sort of disability, and this number is likely to increase over time. This makes it all the more essential to gather relevant statistics on disabled individuals, young and old, across the African continent so that the lives of future generations can be sustained and enhanced. It is incumbent upon individuals involved in the disability studies field to spread their influence and knowledge to Africa so that disabled Africans and their stories are no longer ignored.