John Kubai M'akwalu

ID: a square graphic on a blue gradient background with the header: “The D-30 Impact List, 2021 Honoree, John Kubai M'akwalu, he/him/his, Kenya.” John’s headshot on the right. John is a black man with brown hair and is wearing a black and white striped shirt. At the bottom, “Diversability, #D30DisList.”

---

John Kubai M'akwalu (he/him/his)

Disability rights advocate

Kenya

John is a highly gifted writer who uses this ability to send petitions to the Kenyan parliament, the Teacher's Service Commission, the Kenyan National Union of Teachers (KNUT), and various other governmental institutions. These petitions advocate for the disabled community, especially to encourage better living conditions. The petitions are constructive and encourage these institutions to consult disabled persons during policy formulation.

John was involved in an academic conference at a European University where he argued persuasively and passionately against infanticide. Specifically, he presented the stance—based on the idea that people with disabilities have equal dignity and value—that unborn persons should not be terminated on the basis of a predicted disability. Those who witnessed this saw the massive impact it had as the array of scholars in attendance were visibly challenged to think through the implications of his case.