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NCPWD has announced the discontinuation of the requirement for “Blue Letters” for teachers already registered and issued with valid disability certificates and tax exemption documentation.
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The Council said that continued demand for administrative confirmation letters was unnecessary given that teachers with disabilities had already undergone a comprehensive registration and verification process before receiving official disability certification.
Teachers with disabilities across Kenya are set to benefit from reduced bureaucracy after the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) announced the discontinuation of the requirement for “Blue Letters” for teachers already registered and issued with valid disability certificates and tax exemption documentation.
In a communication addressed to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the council stated that the continued demand for administrative confirmation letters, commonly referred to as Blue Letters, was unnecessary given that teachers with disabilities had already undergone a comprehensive registration and verification process before receiving official disability certification.
The council explained that disability registration certificates and tax exemption documents are only issued after applicants undergo rigorous medical assessments, document authentication, evaluation by relevant technical committees and approval through established administrative systems.
Once approved, the documents are generated through official government platforms and contain security features that enable verification.
According to the Council, the Blue Letter requirement has created significant challenges for teachers with disabilities.
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Many have been forced to travel long distances to Council offices solely to obtain confirmation letters despite already possessing government-issued certificates.
This has resulted in additional transport, accommodation and accessibility-related expenses.
The council further noted that the requirement contributed to delays in employment processing, payroll administration and access to benefits.
It also led to repeated submission of documents that had already been vetted and approved during the original registration process.
NCPWD emphasized that adequate legal and technological safeguards already exist to facilitate verification of disability status and tax exemption certificates.
“Disability certificates issued through the eCitizen platform contain secure QR codes and embedded security features that allow institutions to confirm their authenticity.” The council noted
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It added that tax exemption certificates can also be verified through the Kenya Revenue Authority’s iTax system, while government agencies can access official records through inter-agency communication channels.
As a result, the council has formally notified TSC that it will no longer routinely issue Blue Letters for teachers who have already been duly registered and issued with valid disability certificates and tax exemption documentation.
The move is expected to streamline administrative processes, reduce unnecessary costs for teachers with disabilities and promote efficient public service delivery.
The council said the decision aligns with the Constitution, the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, and the government’s broader agenda of digitization, inclusivity and accessibility in public services.
By Philip Koech
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