The United Nations in Kenya has named Professor Michael M. Ndurumo, a distinguished deaf scholar and lifelong advocate for disability rights, as the 2025 UN in Kenya Person of the Year. The announcement was made on Friday, October 24, 2025, during the commemoration of UN@80 celebrations at the UN complex in Gigiri, Nairobi.

Professor Ndurumo received the prestigious award in recognition of his profound contributions to disability rights, inclusive education, and the empowerment of people with disabilities across Kenya and the broader East Africa region. Presenting the award, UN Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), Zainab Hawa Bangura, lauded the professor for his transformative impact and unwavering dedication.

The UN Person of the Year award, an initiative coordinated by the UN Information Service in Nairobi since 2002, acknowledges individuals and organizations for outstanding efforts in advancing the ideals of the United Nations.

A Lifetime of Overcoming Barriers

Born on April 10, 1952, Professor Ndurumo's life was irrevocably altered at the age of eight when he lost his hearing after contracting meningitis in 1960. At a time when educational infrastructure for the deaf was virtually non-existent in Kenya, he persevered, teaching himself English by reading a dictionary and excelling in the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) examinations in 1968.

With no local secondary schools equipped to support him, his academic journey took him to the United States, where he was supported by missionaries. This pivotal move led to him earning BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, making him the third deaf person from Africa to obtain a doctorate in 1980.

Pioneering Inclusive Education in Kenya

Upon returning to Kenya in 1982, Professor Ndurumo embarked on a remarkable career dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers for people with disabilities. He joined the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE), now the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), where he rose to become Deputy Director and Head of Special Education. During his 21 years at KIE, he was instrumental in developing curricula for special needs education.

A towering figure in academia, he is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Nairobi. His career also includes senior lecturer roles at Moi University, where he was central to establishing M.A. and PhD programs in Counselling Psychology. His work has been crucial in developing special education programs at numerous Kenyan universities, including Kenyatta University and Daystar University.

National Impact and Legislative Advocacy

Professor Ndurumo's influence extends deep into national policy and language. He is credited with initiating the development of Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) in the 1980s, a pivotal effort that culminated in KSL being recognized as an official language in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya. He is also the founding chair of the Kenya National Association of the Deaf (KNAD).

His expertise has been sought in numerous high-level national commissions. He served as a commissioner in the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Education System of Kenya (1998-2000) and was consulted by the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission on the rights of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, he drafted the initial bill that was later incorporated into the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2003, which established the National Council for Persons with Disabilities.

This UN honour serves as a capstone to a lifetime of achievement, recognizing a Kenyan hero who transformed personal adversity into a powerful force for national progress and social justice.