Among the factors that can cripple human activities is disability. In Sinoko village, Kanduyi constituency, Bungoma County, 60-year-old Elder Herman Ochola describes the hardships he faced in life after losing his sight at the age of 12.

Ochola recounts that his early life started well until he suffered from paralysis and lost his sight.

Despite this, he was able to obtain a basic education that enabled him to get a job as a telemedicine specialist at Bungoma General Hospital. However, his life deteriorated after he was suspended from his job and forced to leave the hospital building.

“Life was tough after the suspension, the family that depended on me for everything is now struggling,” Herman explains.

He says he met the pastor of Christ Ambassadors Church at Sinoko village who gave him a room in the church that has been his home for twenty years.

“If I had not known him or received help from this pastor, I do not know where I would have lived with my family, I have nothing but to thank him for giving me a ray of hope in life despite my situation,” he added.

He is appealing to donors to come forward and help him get at least a piece of land which he says will give the family great relief.

Herman’s wife Mrs. Everlyn Ochola says that living conditions have become difficult and therefore is appealing to donors to intervene and help her along with her husband and four children as one of them passed his form four exam but has not been able to join university due to lack of school fees.

“Despite getting accommodation and due to the high cost of living, we do not even have the means to educate our son who graduated; he has been forced to stay at home due to lack of fees.” Ochola hints.

However, the Silver Shield organization, in collaboration with other activists, has visited Ochola and provided him with necessities as a way of embracing the forgotten in society.

 Julie Malaho, The CEO of Silver Shield Organization has used the opportunity to appeal to Bungoma county leaders to help Ochola find a permanent solution, arguing that the donations they are making are not enough.

“This donation in the form of food and consumer goods is not enough, he should find a permanent solution,” Julie insists.

In addition, the organizations represented and neighbors have called on relevant government departments and donors to pay attention to the issues of those with disabilities by helping Ochola who has also been unable to send her son to university.

Their statement has been reinforced by her wife, the pastor of Christ Ambassadors of Love church Julia Malaho, who has insisted that Herman Ochola needs urgent help.

“As a church, we try our best to help the underprivileged, but it is also the government’s responsibility to focus on disabled people and support them as many are going through challenges,” says Julia Malaho.

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