Do Dads of Disabled Children Do Enough? Kenya Study Points to Misunderstood Ways of Caring

Abstract

This article, published in The Conversation Africa, examines the caregiving roles and contributions of fathers of children with disabilities in Kenya, challenging common assumptions about paternal involvement. Drawing on research findings, the piece explores the diverse and often underrecognised ways in which Kenyan fathers provide care, support, and advocacy for their disabled children. The article argues that prevailing frameworks for assessing parental engagement may not adequately capture culturally specific expressions of fatherhood and care. It calls for more nuanced approaches to understanding and supporting fathers within disability and family welfare policy in Africa.