Disabled, unemployed but hopeful

A shocking incident changed the course of Katana’s life, rendering him disabled and throwing him into a path of joblessness. He shares his story with Nation.co.ke.

“I was born in a remote village in Kilifi County. Like most children of my time, I attended the public primary school in the neighbourhood. I passed my KCPE exams and joined a secondary school which is also near home.

Those days, hardly anyone proceeded to university from that school. Against all odds, I got a B+ in my KCSE and proceeded to join Kenyatta University.

I was enrolled to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology (IT). Four years later, I graduated with a degree in IT. I was a happy man.

My years of tears, sweat and blood were about to pay off. I stepped into the world.

TRAVELLING

After my graduation, I secured employment at a high school to teach computer studies. I also got a teaching position at a university campus in town. I was doing what I do best: imparting knowledge about information technology to young minds. I even became a national examiner in my field of study.

The new position now required me to travel widely from time to time to mark exams. I did that for some years. Among other things, I used my savings to buy three motorcycles for the taxi business. I also started a cyber cafe near home. All was well. The future was bright.

One day, I was in my hotel room in Nairobi. I was just from marking an exam. Tired, I got into the bathroom to freshen up. I took off my clothes, turned on the shower—the hot one—for Nairobi was very cold.

I could now feel the warm water caressing my head, flowing down my spine. I moved my hand to massage my hair.

But it couldn’t move.

'What’s wrong with it?' I wondered. I moved my leg to step out of the shower. But suddenly, everything turned dark.

I woke up in a strange bed. It was covered with blue sheets. I could smell disinfectant in the sheets. A young-looking face in a blue gown was smiling at me. I smiled back.

“Where am I?”

“You are in the hospital. And I am the nurse.”

The nurse pulled a chair. Like a mother to her lost-and-found child, she narrated what had brought me to the hospital. It was the longest five minutes of my life. She told me not to worry though. Everything would be alright.

“Stroke? This can’t be true! I am getting out of this bed.”

I moved my right leg to sit up. It was not moving. I moved my right hand to assist the leg, it was not responding.

A week later, I was discharged from the hospital. I was supported to get up from the hospital bed. I was put on a wheelchair

It is now seven years since I arrived home, since I lost my jobs and depleted all my savings. I am thankful to my family though, they have been there for me all the time. They have supported my physiotherapy and other health needs. They have assisted me to carry out my activities of daily living.

Very few friends still call me. And even fewer have come to see me.

Sometimes I look at my phone. It has stopped ringing as often as it used to. I have often wondered if it has a problem with network, or the ringtone. But I got it checked, they said it is fine.

I have thought about God; where He is, what He is doing. I choose to believe that He has a reason for all what is happening to me. I choose to trust Him; and decide to count my blessings.

*The names and locations have been changed to protect identities.

Amani Karisa is a doctoral fellow of disability studies at the University of Cape Town. Email:[email protected].