Disability is not Inability

:: Proud Kenyan and living with disability

There are many things that we can change but very few we actually manage to change with the wrong attitude. I say this because of the kind of response i have started receiving as the coountry gets into election mood. That we persons with disabilities have nothing to be proud of.

My little experience with being physically challenged in life has taught me that my perception to anything determines my reaction to it. Quite a number of kenyans have an attitude to disability because they do not understand it. It is out of their normal process of thought. I have seen people who would stand in shock at the sight of a person with a disability. But again many persons with disabilities also have a perception challenge with their situation. This has destroyed the self esteem and ability therefore to profit even from their God given talents.

As a matter of fact PWDs in the West have developed by building or capitalising on the skills they have that the people without disabilties do not have. Education in the West is talent exploitation. This is the same both for people with or without disabilities.

I will therefore not allow my disability to stifle my talent. If there is an opportunity for education i pray my God that it helps me realise what is it i can do that can earn me aliving within my situation. So even within the disability community just like the general community there are those who have overcame their disability and brought out their talents for a decent livelihood.

It all began with an article early during the year in which we adopted the slogan I am proud to be Kenyan into Kenya Sign Language (KSL). This was followed by some form of explanations about the origins of the signs and their varieties. But more important was the discussions we had with various PWDs in relation to this question: Are you a Proud Kenyan.


This therefore is where i come from. That being a person with disability in Kenya is definately better than many other African countries and indeed the World. If you think you can go to America and do what you cannot do here you are mistaken. America does not give free things they are only ahead in building talents.

Just like being me is better than me being you. I love to be me. I look at myself in the Mirror and thank God for making me to be me. I was amused that during the time NIck Vivichi was around quite a number of persons with disabilities wanted to be Nick. While Nick wanted to be able to do more.

Many Kenyans then went home with the mind that Nick is Nick because He is from Australia a developed country. While i may agree there may be better services to PWDs in Australia than in Kenya. I disagree that the services taught nick his capabilities. If you stay with the man for a while he is always looking at what you can do that he cannot do. He was challenged by a boy in Dagoretti special school who could draw with his legs!! There are many in Australia livign with disability and all the nice things there that cannot do what Nick can do. "Its attitude stupid" if i may borrow Bill Clinton wording.

So many persons with disabilities may be confusing proud to be Kenyan with lack of self-esteem. This is unfortunately not only a challenge of PWDs but also Kenyans in general. Many think some politician has to make me proud. Many think self esteem is a project of the Goovernment. That if you have got some goodies especially during this election year that you should now be proud.

addtional writing by disabilitykenya