Mr Keen is standing for election to the Bruce ward of the Clutha District Council.
He suffers from Iridocorneal Endothelial (ICE) Syndrome and went blind six years ago.
A history of glaucoma meant that Mr Keen had to have grafts in his eyes.
He was employed at Finegand freezing works, near Balclutha, but contracted a virus in 2000 and "that was the end of it".
"I have about 5% vision in one eye.
"Enough that I can manoeuvre myself around town with a cane, but if you were standing more than 10cm away from me, I wouldn't know what you look like."
This was his first "real" attempt at a position on the council, and he was standing because he believed Milton had issues that need solving, he said.
"Instead of just complaining about it, I thought I would do something about it."
He said logistically there was nothing that he could not do.
He had organised a driver to take him to meetings and people to give him a hand if he needed help.
He did not read Braille and used a computer tool called JAWS screen reader.
"I'll basically be able to run a computer the same as anyone else. The only difference is the computer will be talking to me."
Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind communications consultant Prasheeta Ram-Taki did not know how many blind councillors there were across the country.
Mr Keen (54), who is not married, said he was not worried about not being able to see, because being on council was about using "the top 2%".
"It's about sorting out problems and solving them."
One thing he had become was a very good problem solver, he said.
