Career advice · Updated October 2026
NCPWD Card Requirements: How to Register as a Person With Disability in Kenya
Registering with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) gives you a disability identification card or certificate that government offices, employers and the Kenya Revenue Authority recognise. This guide explains the NCPWD card requirements, how to register online through eCitizen, what it costs, how to download your certificate, and why registration matters when you are looking for a job or already employed.
The law behind the card
Kenya’s disability law changed in 2025. The Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025 (Act No. 4 of 2025) commenced on 27 May 2025 and repealed the 2003 Act. It restructured the NCPWD, and section 35 requires the Council to register persons with disabilities on a continuous basis and issue them with disability identification cards.
Three points in the Act are worth knowing before you apply:
- It is free. Section 14 gives every person with disability the right to a disability identification card free of charge, and section 24(6) says medical assessment reports, including those for registration, are done free of charge in public health institutions.
- The card is proof. Under section 35(5), the card or certificate is conclusive evidence that the holder is a person with disability.
- No registration, no denial. Section 35(4) says the Council shall not deny an unregistered person with disability access to its services. Registration still makes most processes faster, because offices ask for the card.
NCPWD card requirements
According to the NCPWD frequently asked questions, you need:
| Applicant | Documents |
|---|---|
| Adult (18 and over) | Disability medical assessment report from a government-gazetted hospital, signed by the County Director of Medical Services; national ID; passport-size photograph |
| Minor | Disability medical assessment report as above; birth certificate; passport-size photograph; an eCitizen account belonging to the parent or guardian applying |
The Council’s FAQ also lists the charge as free.
Step 1: Get the medical assessment
The assessment is done at a government hospital gazetted for disability assessment. The NCPWD explains that these are mainly level-four hospitals because they have the rehabilitation services needed during the assessment. Ask at your county hospital’s records or rehabilitation department which days assessments are done, and carry your ID, any previous medical reports and specialist letters. The report then needs the signature of the County Director of Medical Services.
For some disabilities, other processes ask for specialist reports too. For tax exemption, for example, the NCPWD lists an ophthalmology report from a consultant for visual disability, a psychiatric report for mental disability, and audiology and BERA reports for hearing disability. Ask for these at the assessment if you plan to apply for exemption later.
Step 2: Register on eCitizen
- Log in to ncpwd.ecitizen.go.ke with your eCitizen account, or search for “National Council for Persons with Disabilities” after logging in to eCitizen. If you have trouble with your account, Business Radar explains how to log in to eCitizen.
- Click “Register as a person with Disability”.
- Choose the application category (adult or minor) and fill in your details.
- Upload the signed medical assessment report, your ID or birth certificate and a passport photo.
- Submit the application.
If you save a draft and need to correct it, the FAQ says to open “Recent Applications”, then “View history”, click the reference number of the draft and use “Edit”.
Step 3: Download your certificate
Once your application is processed, log in to eCitizen, go to “Recent Applications”, click “View history”, open your application’s reference number and click “Download Disability Certificate”. Save a PDF copy on your phone and in your email, and print a few copies for job applications.
Renewal
The NCPWD FAQ says the certificate’s validity was moved from three years to five years under current policy, and that under the guidelines only the medical assessment report might be permanent. Note your expiry date and renew before it lapses, especially if you are claiming tax exemption, because the exemption application asks for a copy of your NCPWD card.
Giving false information to get registered, or helping someone who is not entitled to obtain disability benefits, is an offence under section 71 of the Act.
Why the card matters for jobs
Your rights as a job seeker and employee
Section 21 of the 2025 Act sets out the right to work. Every employer must not discriminate against a person with disability in job applications, hiring, promotion and terms of employment. In particular:
- an employer with at least 20 employees must reserve at least five per cent of direct employment opportunities for persons with disabilities;
- an employer must not run any test to find out whether an applicant has a disability or how severe it is;
- employers must make appropriate modifications to their premises, and reasonable accommodation includes accessible facilities, modified schedules, adapted equipment, adjusted tests and training materials, readers or interpreters, and assistive allowances;
- employers must report annually to the Council on the employment of persons with disabilities.
National and county governments must also take measures so that at least five per cent of public service positions are filled by persons with disabilities (sections 4 and 5). Section 22 protects you from dismissal or demotion because of a disability, and section 21(6) sets the retirement age for persons with disabilities at five years above the mandatory age set by the Government. Business Radar’s guide to the retirement age in Kenya explains the general rules.
Our guide to discrimination at work in Kenya explains how to raise a complaint if these rights are ignored.
Why employers ask for it
Many application forms ask whether you have a disability so the employer can count you towards its targets and plan accommodation. The NCPWD’s own employment application form, for example, asks applicants living with a disability for their registration number and date. Private employers also have a financial reason to value your registration: section 23 allows a private employer to claim a tax deduction equal to 25 per cent of the salary paid to an employee with a disability, but only with proof certified by the Council. Disclosing is your choice, but if you want an adjustment at interview, such as extra time in a written test or an accessible venue, ask for it in writing early.
When you apply for public jobs, follow our guide on how to apply for government jobs in Kenya and track open rounds on the government recruitment tracker. Add your NCPWD certificate to the documents you keep ready; our list of documents required for jobs in Kenya covers the rest. A clear CV helps too, and our free CV builder produces a simple, readable layout.
Other services that need the card
Registration opens up NCPWD programmes listed in its FAQ, including assistive devices, education assistance, tools of trade for self-employment, economic empowerment grants for groups and job placement support. The Council also runs a career portal with partners for job seekers with disabilities, linked from its homepage.
If you are in employment, the card is one of the documents needed to apply for income tax exemption. The NCPWD lists exemption forms 1 and 2, the assessment report, your KRA PIN, ID, NCPWD card, a certified latest payslip where applicable, an employer’s letter where applicable, and a tax compliance certificate, and says processing takes one to three months.
Key takeaways
- Registration and the medical assessment are free under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025.
- You need a signed assessment report from a gazetted government hospital, your ID (or birth certificate for a minor) and a passport photo.
- Apply on ncpwd.ecitizen.go.ke and download the certificate from “Recent Applications”.
- Employers with 20 or more staff must reserve at least five per cent of direct jobs for persons with disabilities and must provide reasonable accommodation.
- Keep the certificate current; it is needed for tax exemption and many programmes. NCPWD’s toll-free line is 0800 724 333.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get an NCPWD card?
Nothing. The Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025 gives the right to a disability identification card free of charge, medical assessment reports for registration are free in public health institutions, and the NCPWD lists the eCitizen registration as free.
Where do I get a disability medical assessment in Kenya?
At a government hospital gazetted for disability assessment, mostly level-four hospitals with rehabilitation services. The report must be signed by the County Director of Medical Services before you upload it on eCitizen.
How do I download my NCPWD certificate?
Log in to eCitizen, open "Recent Applications", click "View history", select your application's reference number and click "Download Disability Certificate". You can then save or print it.
Do I have to tell an employer that I have a disability?
It is your choice. Employers cannot test you to find out whether you have a disability, but disclosing lets you ask for reasonable accommodation and lets the employer count you towards its five per cent target and claim the tax deduction for employing you.
Latest jobs in Kenya
- Sales Consultant · Flow Africa
- Events & Media Analyst · Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA)
- Vacant Roles · CDL Human Resource
- Growth Marketing Lead · African Management Institute (AMI)
- Electrical Engineer · Doshi Group
- Superintendent Pharmacist – Bishan Plaza, Westlands · Avyora Health Group Limited