A Story of Resilience: Caring for Persons with Disabilities Against All Odds
In a quiet neighborhood within Nairobi County, lives a remarkable woman whose story is a testament to resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication. At 59 years old, she is not just a mother but a pillar of strength to four young adults living with disabilities.
Her journey has been long and challenging. After losing her husband in 1994 — a loss attributed to stress and depression linked to the disabilities of their sons — she took on the role of sole caregiver. Her two biological sons, both living with mental disabilities, became the first beneficiaries of DRET's support program for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), thanks to the founder who had been offering them personal support even before DRET was established.
But her compassion extended beyond her own family. When a close friend, also living with a disability, passed away leaving behind twin daughters — one of whom lives with multiple disabilities — she opened her heart and her home. Despite her own financial and emotional struggles, she took the two girls under her care, ensuring they had shelter, basic needs, and a sense of family.
The Journey of the Sons
The third-born son, who developed mental challenges after suffering cerebral malaria at the age of six, has managed to achieve a certain level of independence. He attended Mbangathi Primary's Special Unit and later Joy Town Secondary School, and is able to take up short-term clerical contracts when his health is stable.
His elder brother, however, faces more severe mental challenges. Despite being born healthy, he experienced developmental difficulties early in life. Extensive treatment efforts were made, but the doctors eventually advised the family that his condition would be managed through therapy and medication alone.
He requires 24-hour supervision due to occasional violent outbursts and a tendency to wander. One harrowing incident saw him missing for almost a month, eventually found in Karen where he had been abused — a painful reminder of the vulnerabilities that persons with disabilities often face.
The Journey of the Twins
The younger of the twin girls was born with multiple physical and mental disabilities, and due to limited resources, she has never received formal education or rehabilitation services. After their mother passed away in 2018, her older twin sister, still a minor herself, dropped out of school to care for her.
Understanding the risks of raising teenage girls in a household with adult men, the caregiver made the difficult but necessary decision to rent a separate home nearby for the girls to ensure their safety and dignity.
The Role of Support
With the intervention of DRET and the founder, the family has been able to access crucial support over the years. Medical care at Mathari Mental Teaching and Referral Hospital, education sponsorships, and registration with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and NHIF have significantly improved the quality of life for the family.
The caregiver herself has been empowered through entrepreneurship, supported to start a small peanut butter business whose marketing and distribution is assisted by the organization. The older son has also been assisted in setting up a company to compete for AGPO (Access to Government Procurement Opportunities) tenders dedicated to PWDs, while the younger son has been enrolled in the state’s Cash Transfer Program for persons with severe disabilities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family was among the many who received food and sanitary support from the organization, a timely lifeline during a difficult period.
A Call for Support
Despite the significant strides made, the family continues to face daily challenges — especially regarding healthcare, food security, and the special needs of the young adults under the caregiver’s wing.
They need financial assistance to cover medical expenses, basic necessities, and continued livelihood support to sustain the peanut butter business and other ventures aimed at promoting self-reliance.
Their story is not just about hardship; it is a powerful story of resilience, love, and the human spirit’s ability to triumph in the face of adversity.
If you are moved by this story and would like to support this family or others like them, please reach out to us. Together, we can help them live a life of dignity, hope, and opportunity.