Measuring literacy outcomes for the blind and for the deaf: Nationally representative results from Kenya

•We present data from a nationally representative assessment of learning outcomes for the blind and for the deaf in Kenya.•Literacy outcomes for the blind and the deaf are low and few children are reading fluently with comprehension.•Blind children who attend special units perform better than blind children who attend special units within public schools.•Deaf children who attend special units perform no better than deaf children who attend special units within public schools.•Literacy outcomes for the deaf and for the deaf-blind appear significantly lower than outcomes for children without disabilities in similar schools.