By Betty Luke
Intolerance from the community is the worst thing one can suffer from especially if they have a disability. While disability is not inability, living with the condition still remains a nightmare to many.
More traumatizing is when a child develops complications while growing up and has to cope living with a disability. People discriminate you just because you walk using crutches, has hearing or sight impairments while others keep staring at you like a statue.
Faced with numerous criticism, with detractors telling him he cannot help himself leave alone representing people, a 38-year-old man from Bulapesa is committed to leading his ward and is not ceding any time soon.
His strategy as he seeks to be elected as the Bulapesa MCA in 2022 is to diligently serve and transform livelihood for his electorates so that they willingly reelect him without him campaigning.
Mr Abdi Waqo, popularly known as Uncle, was born without any complication in a family of three but suffered Polio (Poliomyelitis) while aged seven years.
One in 200 Polio infections leads to irreversible paralysis and among those paralysed, 5 to 10 percent die when their breathing muscles become immobilized according to the World Health Organisation.
A child should get at least three Polio shots, one at two months, second at four months and last between six and 18 months.
“I suffered polio while aged seven. I was walking properly but the condition weakened my muscles rendering me disabled,” Mr Waqo, who uses assistive devices to walk, told The Press Point.
Born and brought up in Bulapesa, Mr Waqo schooled at Thingithu Primary in Laikipia before proceeding to Githumu Secondary School in Kiambu County.
He holds a Diploma in Tax Administration from Mawingu Training College in Nanyuki, Laikipia County.
Amid several challenges, the father of three has initiated several programs geared towards curbing drug and substance abuse that continues to ruin lives for many youths in the ward and across Isiolo County.
Mr Waqo usually mobilizes young people for several sporting activities such as soccer and athletics at Bulampya grounds during evenings to help beat idleness which makes youth get lured into promiscuous behaviour and crime.
Those with various types of disabilities like Waqo, participate in sitting volleyball at Wabera Grounds.
“I have organized them in a group that go for games every evening and by the time they are returning to their homes they are tired and have no time for negative things,” he said while lamenting that many people were mocking and discriminating him for being unable to walk.
Being a parent has been his driving force towards ensuring that young people stay engaged and do not indulge in vices which would ruin their dreams.
When The Press Point catches up with him in Isiolo town, Mr Waqo is running several errands using his customized motorbike to supplement his wife’s income in providing for their family. The wife is a tailor.
With the motorbike, which he received recently from local philanthropist, he is able to earn income and provide for his family.
“I earn a minimum of Sh700 daily and that is enough to sustain us,” he recently told journalists in Isiolo town.
Mr Waqo feels time had come for the residents to elect a leader with community at heart saying majority of the residents were living in abject poverty for electing insensitive and self-centered leaders.
For the ward to achieve maximum development, he said, residents must pick development-oriented individuals who will ensure improved livelihoods.
“Bulapesa needs a leader with ‘deeper eyes’ that can clearly see what the residents are facing and offer solution,” he said adding “Viongozi wetu wote hawana huruma kwa hivyo walio maskini ndio wanaumia translated to all our leaders lack sympathy and that is why the poor are left suffering”
If elected, Mr Waqo said, he will focus on youth, women and persons living with disabilities (PWDs) and ensure all people are treated equally with priority on the neediest ones.
To enhance security at night, he will ensure flood lights are erected in poorly lit areas within the ward to ensure residents continue with their businesses uninterrupted.
The aspirant says his desire is to ensure rights for all people are safeguarded regardless of their tribe and religious affiliations.
“I have been turned away for several times while seeking assistance at government and Non-Governmental Organisation offices and I would not want to see things change and people get services at ease,” Mr Waqo said during an interview with Press Point.
Mr Waqo encouraged the physically and mentally challenged not to give up on their dreams and keep pushing for their rights.
“Let them not underrate themselves but learn to rise above situations to achieve their dreams,” he appealed.
The Bulapesa MCA hopeful has warned residents against transferring their votes to other areas, saying doing so will deny them an opportunity to elect the right leader in the forthcoming General Elections.
“I am focused on my dream and I know with God, it is possible,” he concludes.
