Disability is not Inability

::Jesus loves us equally: Vivichi’s greatest lessons to the Kenyan PWDs!
10th November 2006

Nick Vivivhi left a great impression in the minds of many kenyans both with and without disabilites. His life without limbs is surely without limits. Many have watched with awe and wonder the miracle that the man vivichi is. He has no limbs both hands and legs yet he is more independent than many of us who have all our limbs. The man was a role model to many who saw him kick balls, use a computer, brush his own hair, take himself a glass of water etc etc all without limbs.

I spoke to many deaf people and many gave excuses that he is white where help or assistive devices are a right. Some said compared to Kenyan disabled persons is wrong considering the life we live in Kenya. Poverty is high the little skills we have are not marketable. The boy in dagoreti who can draw with his feet yet who will buy such drawing to give the boy independence. All these are true. The environment we live in as Kenyans with disability we cannot say we are proud to be Kenyans!

But then I was not satisfied I wanted to know more about what drives the man. What is the software that drives the miraculous life? When the man was sitting with the disabled children in the various venues I couldn’t fail to miss the contrast. Why is disability such a hard life? Why do we look so beggarly and miserable? Why don’t we be able to look at life positive and seize opportunities in the rat race that Kenya is. I know many disabled persons will read this with an attitude. But I love the zeal of the disabled women fighting council askaris. I believe without such zeal that we can make it and fight for what we know or our income opportunities. Disability in Kenya is a passionate life and opinions are strong and deeply rooted. But also highly defined by the wider society attitude.

Vivichi greatest gospel was the fact that Jesus loves the disabled people equally with the non-disabled. The gospel according to many churches in Kenya condemns disability. They read the bible from the face value where the word talks about blindness and deafness. Yet the greatest blindness deafness or deformity is in the mind of Kenyans. Spiritual blindness, deafness or deformity to the kingdom is what Jesus came to preach about. Anything else is according to your faith. This point was powerfully driven home from the sight of vivichi. What you believe is what you become. If you feel disability is making you poor, beggarly and always in need of handouts, that what you become. Many of us have allowed the negative gospel to destroy our drive for better life. We have talents God has given us yet we are not making use them. We are busy complaining that we have this or that disability.

The deaf for example need to learn writing and reading English not so that they can sign but so that they have ease accessing information in books and papers, write and send email etc. In a world which does not know KSL its more wise to be bilingual to build your inclusion skills to access available opportunities.

We the disabled like pointing fingers yet we are not doing enough for ourselves. We have proof that if we worked with what we have we can build our ability to get what we don’t have. So when Jesus asked the blind man in Mathew what can I do for you: what he meant is that you get what you ask for. Faith can sort out blindness or deafness but not for all. It’s according to your faith. But if you did not ask for it, it does not mean you are a sinner. Why don’t we ask for talents that we may find what we can do with the disability we have? Behind every disability is ability. Behind every person is a Plan that is achievable. God has a plan set for s/he. Find what God has for you and get on with it. Draw with your foot as the boy in dagorreti if you have to, but for Gods sake do something.

Category: Community policy

<< Back to community | Back to Disability Kenya >>