Why transport for persons with disabilities in Kenya remains a mere dream .AKA uchukuzi ni ndoto Kenya.

Despite the policies, regulations and constitutional provisions protecting persons living with disabilities, we still remain among the marginalised lot in Kenya. The persons with disabilities in Kenya hardly access any specialised support services in urban and rural areas. Instead they depend in third parties for support. However, the helpers are mostly ignorant of their plight and are sometimes unavailable. In the major cities in Kenya such as Nairobi, Mombasa and Meru, we the disabled persons do not enjoy the right to access the public spaces as most of the facilities are yet to comply with the legislation. The Kenyan Constitution binds all construction works to have accessibility features e.g tactile marks for the Blind and deaf blind person, ramps, to easily access the facilities. Mostly we persons with different mobility needs often find it difficult to use the available transport systems both in the rural and urban areas in Kenya. This is because the systems have not been developed to suit our needs, and we often face discrimination when it comes to using matatus, a popular form of public transport in Kenya. There have been reported cases where persons living with disabilities have been mistreated by matatu touts, a practice which is widespread in the sector, especially in the cities. As such, there has been public outcry from persons living with disabilities over harassment by touts and other matatu stakeholders who infringe on their right to access and use of public facilities as stipulated in the law. This state of affairs has forced the majority of the persons with disabilities to be left behind in the social, economic and political participation in the country. Their productivity levels have been greatly hindered and this proves burdensome to the country’s economic progress in the long run. According to me having been a victim as I share on my website The white cane miles. www.mugambipaul.com There is intentional lack of commitment among stakeholders to ensure transport is accessible. I was literally shocked when the Governor of Nairobi wanted to remove the Motor cycle crew from town. Although his intention was noble but the lack of consulting individuals with disabilities like me who use the motor cycle for transport shows lack of participationn . The Blind persons like me we don’t use motor cycle for luxury neither do we enjoy using it. The truth of the matter its an expensive afair since I have to pay extra cost in order to reach to my destination safely and on time. The simple reason is due to the lack of execution of proper road systems which could have been established to make as independent road users. There are no pathways, there exists potholes, open seewers etc Many blind fellows and other mobility impaired persons we have injuries associated with road usage and in our bodies we possess marks which remind us of the harsh reality that our Kenyan roads are not accessible. Its prudent to say that even after 15 years of the Persons with Disabilities Act No.14 of 2003 nothing much has been achieved on the access to transport. Same applies to the existing road and construction legislations. The act provides for the realisation of the rights of persons living with disabilities and equal opportunities. On a personal level I would like to make an appeal that Its high time matatu touts stopped harassing persons with disability because anyone can be disabled any time,. The transport industry in Kenya needs to establish information booths where we can record harassment and crude behaviour by matatu touts who often abuse and insult most of the disabled people. Through this the transport industry will actually get reliable data and thus being able to address with implementation of policies of stopping abuse to my fellow persons with disabilities. the constitution is clear that all persons have the right to use the available transport systems in the country, therefore the public should be tolerant towards persons living with disabilities and assist them in every area. In most cases drivers and conductors of matatus refuse to stop to pick a person with a disability and instead just drive off past them or even just refuse to assist. When they see a white cane or a wheelchair most of the time they think we are beggars and they see our assistive devices as burden. They forget there vehicles are the once which are not accessible. They normally rash at high speeds and live us hanging there since they tell us they don’t have time for us. many a times we the blind fellows find it difficult to identify designated street crossing points, knowing when it was safe to cross and crossing within the allotted time where there are traffic lights. most of these traffic lights are not audible, don't vibrate nor brailled. one of my mobility impaired individual tellss me that he he has to wake up very early to catch up with the public service vehicles before other people as this is when the operators can afford time for him to board. He has to leave work very late after other people have gone and when the rush hour has gone down. Besides the difficulties experienced because of the rush hour the design of vehicles is another major problem. Narrow entrances, high stairs and lack of grabs pose major challenges to the physically disabled persons to board and disembark. Most of the time wheelchair users are either carried or have to crawl in order to board and disembark. The vehicles do not have enough space to stow wheelchairs and clutches and times their users are required to pay for the extra space they occupy. The deaf experience difficulty in communicating with the public service crew especially when explaining their destinations or even when asking to be given their fare balances. Where visual information such as destination signs on public service vehicles are absent, they experience difficulties identifying the right vehicle to board. Article. for many blind fellows its normal for a vehicle either to drop you past your destination, wrong station or before reaching! All vehicles in Kenya don't have audio announcements passing particular station nor they don't have audio signals in the vehicles. the article 54 of the Constitution of Kenya provides that a person with any disability is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect and to be addressed in a manner that is not demeaning. It furthers states that one is entitled to reasonable access to all places, public transport and information. This is what led me to compose a song entitled “heshima kwa fimbo yangu respect to my white cane” Which can be found on my website www.mugambipaul.com Later on I joined the national federation of the Blind UK and composed a song on road access. https://youtu.be/fyRzMEJNheA Even though the Kenyan government is yet to meet the obligation of mandate on representation of persons with disability with five per cent in public positions, the right to access to use of State facilities has not been met, leaving many disabled persons vulnerable in the society. The government still has the responsibility to take steps towards the full realisation of the rights of persons with disabilities as set out in the Persons with Disability Act 2003 and road regulations. The matatu sector is, however, yet to comply with the existing policies as established under Section 23 of Persons with Disability Act 2003 which imposes an obligation upon public service vehicle providers to adapt them to suit persons with disabilities. Stakeholders in the transport sector should thus develop policies and regulations that cut across the board, on whether a person is disabled or not. You can imagine the long wait for justice for persons with disabilities while non disabled persons enjoy the right to transport. According to the Kenyan laws, the state should promote and protect human rights. Therefore, the State and non-state actors including the society should start looking after persons living with disabilities, ensuring that their rights are promoted and protected as provided for in the law. The National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) which is a State institution formed under Persons with Disability Act 2003 under the Ministry of Labour Social Security and Services, is also mandated to promote the rights of persons with disabilities in Kenya and mainstream disability issues into all aspects of national development. Its high time NCPWD becomes a regulator than a service provider as earlier stated in this blog.

Why Kenya has not been able to make major break through on employment of persons with disabilities! Jicho la tatu

One in ffifteen Kenyan lives with disability. This represents a vast pool of talent, which employers can tap into to enhance workplace diversity and overcome labour shortages. According to WHO 15 % of the population are persons with disabilities. And according to available KBS 1.4 million i.e 4.6 of the population are persons with disabilities. This has been disputed by various lobby groups in Kenya. what many Kenyans don't know is that the reality is that The likelihood of living with disability increases with age. After the establishment of the national council for persons with disabilities It became apparent that all challenges that persons with disabilities would be solved immediately. Of which this is not the truth. The national council of persons with disabilities is supposed to be a catalyst of ensuring that government and private sector adhere to the set disability standards. Has the NCPWD lived to its mandate that’s a debate for another day. Actually no policy guidelines have been developed to have a clear road map on how persons with disabilities can get the employment opportunities. Due to lack of technical and human capital at the NCPWD on this employment challenge. There are not well established service providers who could support a vital role in matching people with disability to jobs. JobAccess service providers can compliment with resources, expertise And also help people with disability find and keep jobs, get promoted to better jobs, upgrade or expand their workplace skills, and more. With the current status persons with disabilities do not have a say on what service they want. Persons with disabilities should be provided a platform where we can make more choices and have a say in job access. With my clear credentials and evidently being a victim of the system I know how employers have and are continueing to treat persons with disabilities. You can log on www.mugambipaul.com for more explicit experiences. What the NCPWD can do is conduct community engagement on job access.develop a strategic plan for the next 5 years which will address the employment gaps among persons with disabilities. They can also provide a grant application to job access service providers in different counties. This will help expand the realization of areas which persons with disabilities would be employed Its high time NCPWD stop being a service provider but a enabler of service providers so that persons with disabilities can be able to access different service. NCPWD should serve as a monitoring and evaluation agency of the governmen. as a professional in this area of disability and public policy I would say and proclaim the employers can benefit from having persons with disabilities on board. afew facts include: • Global research has found that when employee health and wellness is managed well the percentage of engaged employees increases from 7% to 55%. • People with disability are three times as likely to avoid an organisation and twice as likely to dissuade others because of an organisation's negative diversity reputation. with this not withstanding I note the importance of medium of communication to the public. of which Kenyan state organs are yet to embrace. for instance Disability discrimination accounts for the highest volume of complaints across the board to the Kenyan social media sites and no apparent Kenyan state organ is recording the available data of incidences. if the Data collected on the complains it can well inform policy guidelines and aid towards understanding what persons with disabilities deserve .maxmumly The day when this burden will be removed is the actual day when delivery of the potentials and dreams of many persons with disabilities will be realized. Actually, NCPWD can easily achieve the sustainable development goals and 2030 vision targets with this kind of approach I look forward to more fellow persons with disability securing meaningful and lasting employment. If these changes can be adapted they can complement the stronger support available to many people with disability through the Kenyan government disability mainstreaming agenda in its ranks. This is a reflection the Government’s ambition that people with disability are supported to achieve greater social and economic participation.

Albert makes me anxious: Why touchscreen eftpos can be a 'nightmare' AKA ubabaikaji wa wapofu tunaposaka hela.

Many Blind persons all over the world are  not able to use the new Albert eftpos machines because they have no keypads. To set an example, in Australia Martin Stewart wanted to pay his bills. Read more: The evening began so well, with dinner at a local Indian restaurant for his daughter’s birthday. But when it came time to pay, Martin Stewart got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Mr Stewart – who describes himself as “totally blind” – realised the only way he could settle the bill was using an “Albert” eftpos machine – the Commonwealth Bank's tablet-style units that are increasingly widespread, with more than 88,000 across Australia. People who are blind or vision-impaired say these units are not accessible because the smooth glass screen doesn’t have a keypad. This makes it almost impossible for them to “orientate” their fingers and enter their PIN, leaving them with no option but to divulge it to another person to enter on their behalf, often a stranger. And the wide-scale proliferation of touch-screen devices – used in everything from ATM machines to shopping centre directories – discriminates against a vulnerable group of people, advocates say. Mr Stewart didn’t want his daughter to know the cost of her birthday dinner, which was more than $100 and couldn’t be tapped. So he had to reveal his pin to the restaurant waiter, the first time he had ever done this with a stranger. “I hated doing it but what other way was there? I divulged my pin number which is extremely unwise. I felt insecure and deprived of privacy. It's a bit of a nightmare.” Mr Stewart said. In Kenya I  know there is a  major challenge of even having the Atm card. It took me almost 20 years of advocacy to get ATM card. I  had to promise to sue one of the local banks in order for them to surrender my right to me. Blind Citizens Australia, the peak body for people who are blind or vision-impaired, has been locked in an 18-month (and ultimately unsuccessful) negotiation with the Commonwealth Bank Australia, after lodging a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission about the Albert eftpos machines. This is a  great lesson for my fellow Blind persons in Kenya. For us to get financial freedoms we need to speak with one voice and ensure we are able to forward our petisions to the Kenya national human rights commision. Emma Bennison, the peak body's chief executive, has first-hand experience of using the Albert machines, including the five-minute audio “accessibility tutorial” that is supposed to help blind and vision-impaired people use the unit. It is not a good solution, Ms Bennison said. Retailers need to know how to switch the accessibility tutorial on, and many don’t. Without headphones the tutorial is difficult to hear, and the only time she has been able to listen to it in full was when there wasn’t a queue of customers behind her. “I felt completely disempowered and incredibly anxious because I felt like I was being observed, by a whole lot of people, and was holding up the queue,” Ms Bennison said. You can imagine the nairobi traffic and am there in one of the queue and what can happen next! We need to ensure banks have appropriate universal design which can not compromise our security of our well earned money. Ms Bennison says the Commonwealth Bank should stop distributing Albert devices until they are able to include numeric keypads that can be used by touch. Retailers can help by returning their Albert units and asking for a device that has a keypad. I divulged my pin number which is extremely unwise. I felt insecure and deprived of privacy. It's a bit of a nightmare. To the Kenyan banks they need to ensure the voice input capacity is enhanced with the current keyboards since most have not graduated to Albert units. t When ATMs were introduced, they weren’t accessible, and it took years of fighting to bring in standards in the banking sectors for the now-ubiquitous machines. There have been universal guidelines around touchpads for years, including that the “5” always has a dimple on it, says Jonathon Hunyor, the head of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, which was involved in the discrimination complaint. His clients are now considering whether to pursue the matter in the federal court. They are disappointed they might have to litigate to get access to the same services that most people take for granted, he said. “Litigation for us is a last resort because it’s risky and expensive and draining. For ordinary citizens to take on one of the big banks is no small thing,” Mr Hunyor said. A spokesperson for the Commonwealth Bank said making new technologies, like touchscreens, accessible to people who are blind or have low vision represents an “industry-wide challenge”. “We worked collaboratively with both our technology partners, accessibility specialists and individuals with a range of vision loss, including Vision Australia, to deliver the current accessibility solution on Albert,” a spokesperson said in a statement. Mr Stewart, who lost an arm and a leg in a train accident, said he already feels vulnerable without having to worry about someone listening in as he divulges personal information. “You have no idea how much I now have to deal with. The area of finance is usually where security is paramount. I confess God has helped many of the Blind Kenyans not to be conned but this doesn't mean that there are no reported cases. its prudent for blind oriented organizations to rise up and unite for a course of financil freedom for the blind and ensure access to service becomes a right not just the banks to decide what soots them.

How I accepted to be Blind AKA kujikubali

I do not write this lightly, I’ve lived it and learned (slowly at times) that the way we forgive people who have deeply hurt us is nowhere close to the forgiveness with which God forgives us. I remember as if it was yesterday 27th October 4 36 Pm on a Monday wehn darkeness decided to be my long term friend. read more from my story on www.mugambipaul.com despite the pain and anger of joining the disabled I dared to forgive and this made me to move on in the best way. it was not simple but accepting that there is nothing I could change. As I have repeatedly read the story of Joseph’s reconciliation (Genesis 37-50) with his brothers, I have been moved each time by the deep compassion and mercy he extended to his brothers. He taught us a valuable and beautiful lesson on forgiveness. We don’t know how long it took him to reach that level of forgiveness after his brothers plotted to murder him, tossed him into a pit, and then sold him into slavery. In my personal opinion, I doubt it was early on because the hurt was so fresh and deep at that time. Maybe it was a work God accomplished in his heart through a slow and gradual process over the many years he was falsely imprisoned. Maybe it was when he was released from prison and saw the enormous responsibility and position God had placed him in. Maybe his heart was opened then to a deeper understanding of God’s ways, as He learned God’s assignment for him was to save the people from famine. Whenever it was that the healing work of forgiveness took place in Joseph’s heart, I am thankful that he obediently humbled himself and allowed God to bring this about in him. I have seen many people resist God’s work of forgiveness in their lives, and the result is always bitterness. Sometimes it is a very evident, outwardly visible root of bitterness. Sometimes it is a hidden, pushed down, denied form of bitterness, and yet it still spills forth in the life of the unforgiving person. to push further I ask my self God why did I have to undergo some lessons? If hurts were hairs—we’d all look like grizzlies! So many hurts.  I remember vividly when some teachers back in those days who could not encourage us but used to proclaim failure in us! but I would silently tell myself "Mugambi I am not a failure, God prove them wrong!" the teachers din't know they were hurting us, other experiences included when friends dropped me after becoming blind, when ignored by vehicles when on the road as I await to travel, when the people you expected to be with you during tribulations abandon you really hurts. Rejection always does.  People bring pain. Sometimes deliberately.  Sometimes randomly. So where do you turn?  Hitman.com?  Jim Beam and friends?  Pity Party Catering Service?  Retaliation has its appeal.  But Jesus has a better idea! Grace is not blind.  It sees the hurt full well.  But Grace chooses to see God’s forgiveness even more.  Hebrews 12:15 asks us to, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” The evidence of genuine forgiveness was displayed when Joseph was reunited with his brothers and he didn’t condemn them.  He wept and cried and assured them that what they meant for evil, God meant for good. He took care of them and re-established relationship with them. When others have deeply hurt and betrayed us, may we find it in our hearts to forgive as God forgives, as God taught Joseph to forgive, and as Stephen forgave those who stoned him (Acts 6 and 7). Stephen’s story is compelling beyond words. With his dying breath, he forgave those who were taking his life. forgiveness has taught me great lessons of not having to carry loads which I can't manage. God repays handsumly am a living testimony. don't be boxed to stay in the box continously play outside the box for you to achieve your goals. Following the example of Joseph, Stephen, and Jesus Christ, may we hold no charge against our offenders and betrayers and toss their offense ‘as far as the east is from the west’ (Psalm 103:12). God wants us to give mercy to others as He has been merciful to us. He wants us to forgive as we have been forgiven. Colossians 3:12b-13 teaches us to put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Benefits of charcoal AKA faida ya makaa!

Benefits of charcoal #Sharon Bentley Charcoal is one of the most disregarded products at home. We only see the need for it when it is time to set fire for Banku/Roasting. However, if you really need first aid, charcoal is something you need to have on you all the time. You might not know this but it is one of the most medicinal products you can have at home due to its poison extraction ability. In case you never gave it much attention, this is the time to do so. Here are 13 benefits of charcoal you never thought about. 1.Prevention of odour Does your shoe smell bad? Just get some charcoal & put it in them. Do you have any bad smell in your room? Drop some charcoal where you suspect the smell could be coming from. Does your fridge or freezer smell? Put a piece of charcoal in it. Do you have strong body odour? Just make a powder out of charcoal & use. Charcoal is very good at getting rid of bad smell. Ever wondered why your parents always scooped out the ash from the coal pot to pour in the hen coop or toilet before sweeping? That was to get rid of the odour. 2.Keeping food fresh If you want your vegetables to be fresh all the time, just make a solution out of charcoal & leave your vegetables in them. Thank us later. 3.Removing toxins from food These days, people complain about the use of fertilizers on plants & vegetables, making them unwholesome & poisonous. If you have charcoal, you don’t need to worry about this. All you need to do is leave the vegetables in a charcoal solution overnight & it’ll take care of the toxins. If you suspect any food contains too many chemicals, just drop them in a charcoal solution for some hours & you’re good to go. 4.Teeth whitening If you want to whiten your teeth, pay no attention to all these adverts on whitening chemicals & technology. Just get yourself some charcoal & grab hold of a plantain stalk. Make a powder out of the charcoal, mash the tip of the plantain stalk, dip it into the charcoal powder & brush your teeth with it for a week. 5.Restoring soup that went bad Did your groundnut soup or palm nut soup go bad? No need to worry about pouring it all away. Just put it back on fire & drop a piece of charcoal in it. This will extract all the bad taste & smell & restore the soup to its fresh state. 6.Detox Do you have a hangover out of a drink out with friends the previous night? Just have some charcoal with you & chew on it. To make it more effective, make a nice solution out of it & drink. You’re good to go. 7.Neutralizer If you mistakenly did some wild mixing & feel it can knock you out, just add some charcoal to the mixture & your problem is solved. Or if you took in too much alcohol, just drink some charcoal solution & you’re good to go. 8.Healing wounds Do you have a situation where someone’s wound has become so infected to the state doctors are saying they have to cut the affected area? Don’t stress over it, get a large amount of charcoal powder & pour it on the wound. This will extract all the poison from the wound & also help it heal faster. If you have a cut & you want to treat it fast, just get some powdered charcoal & pour on it. 9.Filtration Do you feel your water is contaminated? You don’t need all these products on the market. Charcoal can do better, just drop some amount of it in it. Don’t worry about the colour, it is safe, you can even chew on charcoal. It is far safer than eating chicken from KFC. 10.Cleansing Do you have pimples, acne or any skin disease you really want to get rid of or do you want a very smooth face or skin? All you need is charcoal. Make a thick solution out of it & smear it on your body & leave it on for some hours before taking your bath. It will leave your skin smooth & fresh. 11.Stain removal Do you have some stubborn stain in your kitchen, washroom or on your tiles? You actually need charcoal to get rid of it. I know you’re imagining how this black stainy product can actually remove stains right? Just try it, it works like magic. 12. Getting rid of bloating If you ate or drank something & feel bloated, charcoal is the best solution to get rid of the bloating. 13.Getting rid of bad cholesterol Making a solution out of it & drinking helps eliminate all the bad cholesterol you have stored in you. 14.Ulcers Charcoal can treat all ulcers. Just make it a habit to always chew some. By:

Interviewing a candidate using an interpreter AKA utumizi wa mkalimani wa lugha ishara katika omba kzi

Interviewing a candidate using an interpreter Job interviews are a critical part of recruitment in business, and the role of the interviewer in ensuring a fair and smooth process for all involved shouldn’t be underestimated. If an applicant has notified you they’ll require a sign language interpreter at interview you may be unsure of what exactly their role will be and how to include them. Our top tips have you covered! Here’s how to prepare before, and what to expect during the interview so that your candidate has the opportunity to shine, knowing they’re in a workplace that’s committed to inclusion. Before the interview Ask the candidate if they have a preferred interpreting service and whether there’s a particular interpreter they like to work with. Most services will request the name of the candidate so that if they have a preferred interpreter on record, they can match them to the booking. Working together Where possible, have a chat with the interpreter before the interview about how you can best work with their individual style. For example, some interpreters prefer people to speak one sentence at a time while others favour paragraphs. You can also use this time to fill them in on any jargon, names or acronyms that may be used in the interview, and provide them with a copy of the questions you’ll be asking. First impressions count It’s not only the candidate who needs to be aware of first impressions. Make sure your receptionist and security staff know you’re expecting a visitor who is deaf or has hearing loss and give them some brief guidelines on how to welcome them. They should greet both the candidate and the interpreter with natural eye contact as they would any other guests. Get the room right Make sure the interview room is well lit. Obviously candidates need to be able to see the interpreter but they may also be lip reading so they need to be able to see your faces clearly too. Have an extra seat for the interpreter and position it next to you/the panel so the candidate has a view of all of you. Direct questions to the candidate, not the interpreter Probably the most important rule is to remember: you’re interviewing the candidate, not the interpreter. Always direct your questions at them and maintain natural eye contact, like you would with any candidate. Of course, they need to focus when the interpreter is signing on your behalf but see this as a normal part of your conversation. Panels If you’re interviewing as a panel, make it a rule that you only speak one at a time. It’s impossible to interpret multiple people speaking at once. In a panel situation it’s also good idea to gesture towards the person asking the next question so the candidate knows who to look at.   Technical jargon Be aware that industry terms can get lost in translation, particularly if you haven’t had the opportunity to brief the interpreter beforehand. If what the candidate is speaking back to you suggests they don’t understand, make sure you ask for clarification before assuming they don’t know. Remember The interpreter is there simply to interpret what is being said during the interview. It’s inappropriate to ask for their opinion on a candidate’s suitability for the job or to ask them to keep any of what is being said from the candidate. Relax Having a good interpreter present can make for a smooth process for everyone, and ensure you get the best out of the interview of your potential new employee. Don’t forget to thank them at the end.  www.mugambipaul.com

Respecting our rights as disabled is not negotiable AKA Heshima yapaswa kudumu

The last Kenya census was held in 2009 and it showed that there are about 1.3 million persons with disabilities in Kenya. We face barriers towards access of services due to the impairments on a day to day basis. we face adversity every day of our lives due to stigmatization, isolation and neglect by the very society that is supposed to look out after us. In this day and age of knowledge and enlightenment we still have stories of children with disabilities locked up and hidden away from view by their parents and guardians. Having a disability has been associated with bad omens and curses which further add on to the stigma. It is unfortunate that not only do we have to deal with our own feelings of inadequacy, we also have to contend with an unforgiving society for things that are beyond our control. This is a gross violation of our human rights and further keeps us away from essential amenities such as education, participation in community. Giving people in all parts of the world the support they need to lift themselves out of poverty in all its manifestations is the very essence of sustainable development goals. It is the first of the SDG goals: End poverty in all its form everywhere. Access to education is a fundamental right that will help alleviate poverty yet a lot of my fellow brothers and sisters with disabilities do not have access to quality education. And the ones that do face more challenges due to inadequate facilities like the assistive devices e.g screen readers, braille displays and other technologies. Another ezample is the Mobility devices that should aid and ease our movement such as wheelchairs and whitecanes. Majority of building in the country lack ramps that ease access for people using mobility devices. The number of institutions and teachers available to take care of children with disabilities is dismal. In the last few years, we persons with disabilities have come a long way. The number of schools that cater to our specific needs have gone up due to government enhancement of supporting special schools. although this is a step in the right direction the government needs to reendergize and work towards inclusive education. many Kenyan employers and managers are open to employing persons with disability but lack the confidence and knowledge about how to go about it. this is a clear manifestation of the experience I had undergone after clearing university you can check the story on www.mugambipaul.com after almost a decade and half the advocacy has greatly paid off. A respectable number of Kenyan companies have started adopting policies to encourage inclusion and diversity. the practise is what we can now start to advocate instead of the theoretical frameworks which have been done. I know most of the time the focus has been on other diverse groups. “They are concerned about costs, knowing what to do, where to start and the resources required, or may already have resources dedicated to another diversity focus such as gender balance, Kenyan companies need to rethink there position on disabled workers. For many persons with disabilities like me to make a choice, on for example where to shop, where to eat, where to hold a meeting, which vehicle to use, which airline to use, which product to buy and numerous other transactional scenarios, it boils down to pertinent issues of how such businesses or companies respect and support the rights of persons with disabilities. It comes down to a lack of understanding. Many employers are, in theory, open to employing disabled people – but just don’t know where to start, or are afraid of getting it ‘wrong’. Additionally, there are certain myths that persist around disability in the workplace: disabled people eat into a manager’s time, accomidating them is expensive or disabled people present a health and safety risk. None of these are true. Evidence from Employers Disability NI, for example, shows that disabled people, in fact, take fewer sick days and have fewer accidents in the workplace. A disability does not necessarily mean that a person will need constant attention, or an employer will need to make monumental changes to facilitate them. People with long-term or limiting conditions often have a knack of bedding into a new job quickly and finding their own solutions to challenges thanks to wealth of experience in problem solving coupled with an innate drive to succeed. In fact, according to data from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), HR leaders find that disabled employees outperform all other groups in terms of innovation and professional ambition. Research suggests that building a workforce which is representative of a company’s customer base has a positive impact on brand perception and profitability – and a recent survey by the Academic Network of European Disability experts (ANED) found that the general public would like to see a greater presence of disabled individuals in the ‘work place and day-to-day life’. Successful businesses, organisations and companies have to realise that to reap maximum benefits from their services; they have to take into consideration the various needs of persons with disabilities either as employees, suppliers or customers. The Guide for Business on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by UN Global Compact and International Labour Organization notes that many companies have policies, practices and initiatives in place that seek to respect and support the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities as employees, customers and suppliers. Some of the measures are required by law, but many go beyond legal requirements recognising the human rights and business case for inclusion. “But, being more confident about employing people with disability can bring many benefits to business. Among other things a diverse workforce that reflects the make-up of the general population can lead to new ideas, a stronger and more inclusive workplace culture, and a better understanding of the diverse needs of customers and suppliers,” he said. Leading organisations have proven that when they are confident and equipped and there is alignment between the skills of jobseekers to suitable jobs, outstanding success can be achieved. Having accurate information on disability in your workforce is important so you can: list of 3 items • Organise any workplace adjustments employees need to stay healthy, supported and productive • Avoid complaints about possible breaches of discrimination law • Measure your diversity progress over time - increasing the number of employees with disability increases your chances of attracting the widest talent pool list end In its 2017 annual report, the communications company Safaricom noted that approximately 1.4 per cent of its workforce are persons with disabilities and that they were working towards closing the year at 2 per cent. Safaricom has embarked on a programme to bring on board 20 visually impaired people as they work towards achieving a target of 5 per cent by 2020. The company has also trained more than 350 people in sign language across the country. This is just but one company that is widely known to respect and support rights of persons with disabilities. How many more Kenyan companies are willing to embrace this route? The guide for business on the rights of persons with disabilities further indicates that companies that have embarked on the journey of including persons with disabilities have benefitted from being perceived as corporate leaders and also better reflect the demographics of the communities where they operate. Another competitive advantage that companies can gain by including people with disabilities is increased engagement and retention of their entire workforce. It is critical to note that Kenya is party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which forms part of the laws of Kenya. The CRPD is strongly based on a non-discrimination approach which therefore means that all businesses, companies, and organizations adopt a no-discrimination approach in their interactions with employees, clients and suppliers who include persons with disabilities. A key impact of the adoption of the CRPD is the expectation from persons with disabilities that their rights be respected as citizens, employees, suppliers, customers and generally, as members of society. With this increasing awareness, businesses have to adapt their policies and practices to ensure they are not only meeting these basic expectations but also advancing the rights of persons with disabilities. Companies provide a key contribution to the achievement of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and it is crucial that in their policies and plans they have clear roadmaps on how they are including persons with disabilities. In July 2017, the Kenya Institute of Management launched the 2017 Diversity and Inclusion report which scrutinized the level of diversity in boards and senior management of listed companies across a number of parameters which included gender, age and profession. The parameters used however did not include disability which was a big miss. It would be crucial to know the percentage of persons with disabilities in boards and senior management of various companies. This is because until diversity and inclusion policies are endorsed at the senior most levels of companies, a lot may not change in as far as inclusion of persons with disabilities is concerned. As a point of concern, companies have to be wary of approaching persons with disabilities from a charity perspective. In this sense, many businesses or companies may dedicate funds to corporate social responsibility where they engage in ‘helping the needy’. In as much as this is welcome, it may foster stereotypes that persons with disabilities are charity cases who need help. Rather, companies and businesses have to be at the forefront of fostering the respect for human rights for persons with disabilities. Its also important to mention that most of these companies perpetuate ableism where by persons with out disabilities are made to take lead in driving the disability agenda instead of having persons with disabilities to take lead in advertisements and campaigns. Mobilization of persons with disability oriented activities need to offer comformity of nothing about us with us.. So how do we ensure that PWDs are integrated in all aspects of life including socially, politically, economically and culturally? Despite this, common misconceptions around disability mean that millions of people are unable to fulfil their professional potential. As someone who lives - and works - as a totally blind individual I, like everyone, have a core set of skills and experiences that are unique to me and make me good at my job. Ultimately, an inclusive recruitment process should be able to assess candidates based solely on their ability to do the role they are applying for. We must bust the myths that surround disabled workers to ensure that everyone has a chance to shine.

Disclosure of Vision Loss AKA niseme miyi ni Mpofu?

Disclosure of Vision Loss Do we disclose our blindness immediately in the online social media activities? If we do, will that scare people off before they even get to know us? Should we be honest and upfront? Will most people appreciate our forthcomingness? It depends case by case. Interesting times ahead I can reveal. My confidence never fails me. Although some times I have dared instances! Sometimes not every one would believe that am Blind because I respond to facebook either too first when typing or many don’t expect Blind fellow like me to just be “normal” you know the stereotype of the society where expectations are placed lowly for a blind person. This is no wonder many employers in Kenya don’t want us on board. Some adverts still discriminate us they even go ahead and tell organizations for persons with disabilities “we don’t want visually impaired persons” Anyway lets go back To some social media escapades where some friends I didn’t reveal immediately that I’m blind, To me it was not an obligation since I perceived its just normal. What I din’t know what is normal to me to the society its abnormal. When I din;t click with someone I would further terminate my case even before the jury but if there seemed to be interest between the other person and me, I did let him know before we actually met. Have met many individuals through the facebook, with whom I have built friendship that lasted just over many years. Many who din;t believe after meeting them they later tell me he/she was glad I told them in advance, as it might have been a bit of a shocking surprise had they not known beforehand. Of course, then there were those who greeted the news with immediate rejection I remember a instance I was to meet someone in a hotel somewhere and later the phone was off and in the thin aire no trace could be seen. Back to the facebook some could ultimately reject me with with statements like, "I’ve never met a blind person. I wouldn’t know how to act!" I quickly learned that most people who made such proclamations also chose to remain ignorant and not venture out of their comfort zone. I would soon learn, this wasn’t a question with a simple, easy answer, that it’s different for everyone. I had to make a choice I could live with. So, I included that bit of information about me. I didn’t make it the first thing someone read when they came across my profile, but I didn’t act like it was a secret. I tried to be middle-of-the-road in this like I try to be in most things in life. That’s why over the years on facebook have tried to sell the brand Blind the boss, Mpofu namba 1. This would chase away those who are ignorant so that I could not deal with fake social ticsk. There. Decision made. That was done. I could write a profile, but how long to make it? The questions kept on coming. Soon though, so did the messages. Many a times, people couldn’t believe am Blind. Some were insulting and awful, but it felt comforting I was getting reactions I heard every other blind individuals also received because I felt like I was just like everyone else. I liked being online because I could block and delete. I didn’t have to answer every message, not if it was rude or thoughtless. I felt like I had some kind of control, the kind I had none of in a noisy, busy, blurry bar. It was still a visual concept, the fact that communicating and felt like a buffet of sorts, which are also difficult for people who are blind. Many people in this zugabaga streets expect us to be of low intellect and non performance of duties which are expected of me. Some couldn’t believe I have gone to school etc. I found that everyone has preferences and qualities they are looking for. I wasn’t exempt from doing this; for some, it was physical attributes, for me it was a lack of grammar. I soon found my comfort with the right amount of messages, back and forth, before meeting in person. Some seemed in a hurry, while I liked to learn a bit about them, but not so much that there would be little magic in a first face-to-face meeting. As the social media fraternity grew I opted to also use phone. While most people liked pictures, to see what they’d be getting, I liked to hear a voice over the phone. It gave me something to go by, and I could tell I couldn’t fault some guy if my face wasn’t what they were looking for. Sure, we could meet, and he/she could change his mind after hearing my stories or my dry, witty sense of humor. But so could I meet him and fall for him/her, even if my initial attraction to the sound of his/her voice hadn’t been immediate. It was all a game of chance. My blindness is just one bit of the puzzle, one thing a person can choose to accept or not accept, just as I must if a person who likes camping, when I hate it, is the right person for me to take a chance on. for sure kuna story which captures the imagination. Of course, some differences are bigger than others, and I still know, after being in a few relationships with people I first met online, that this world is not my home is a very complicated and multi-layered. The Keyword: "Game"For now, I am focusing on myself and making the best life I possibly can. I can’t allow myself to get too hung up on the pictures I can’t see or the things I cannot control. Loving myself and my life is the part I can.

Turn Pessimism Around AKA geuza ghasi kuwa chanya!

Turn Pessimism Around When your mind is ruled by a pessimistic outlook, you automatically imagine the worst possible outcome and hold it as your expectation. I remember very well once on the cliff, no one to look up to the way my mind got in to this deep and dip thoughts of negativity. no one to surround with and no one to share what was inside me. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you, which is why the Bible teaches that we should “run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts . . . but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right” (2 Timothy 2:22a TLB). Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you feel. The more you focus on “I don’t want to do this,” the stronger it draws you in. Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don’t argue with it — just hang up! Sometimes this means physically leaving a tempting situation. This is one time it is okay to run away. some ttimes i would Get up and turn off the television set. i would literally walk away from a group of individuals that is gossiping. some times I even could switch off the phone in order to be in my own world. I learnt the hard way To avoid being stung, stay away from the bees. this are eventiful times where even the strong find themselves in dialema. I travel to the devil's sites and then notorious thoughts of judas escariotte keep blazing. this is the only time wehn your best ally tries to tell you it will be okay you don't even believe. the negative thoughts just keep on pouncing as if they are on the dancing floor. Depression is real. It is a consistent, invisible battle that affects even the strongest of us. Hiding, secrets, and not being able to be yourself is one of the worst things ever for a person. It gives you low self-esteem. You never get to reach that peak in your life. You should always be able to be yourself and be proud of yourself. this mind engaging thoughts had disappeared from me. if I was able to see from the mirror I know I won't believe it was me. the mere thoughts that people worked the clocke to ensure that I don't arise kept being reenergized. Even worse, you usually have no "evidence" to support your belief that things will go wrong, you are just choosing to think they will. what kept me on is lieing on a coach and remembrance of sweet times. I lay straight even going with out food and felt better. this was a great medication especially when I Turn this around by challenging any prediction for doom or gloom that comes out of my mouth. The moment i caught myself thinking or saying something pessimistic, i pause and ask myself, "Why do I think that's true? How do I really know it's true? Am I willing to suspend judgment and wait and see what happens?" my ally kep reminding me of better things yet to come. The more i challenge these negative predictions, the more i open to greater possibilities. for sure nilitunda fruits from this development.  i remember vividly skype calls from my ally " Take time to appreciate today for the beautiful gift it is. It does not matter if everything in your life is not the way you want it to be. It doesn't matter if you are surrounded by annoying people. It doesn't matter if you have nagging worries in the back of your mind. It doesn't matter if you're stressed or overwhelmed by responsibility. My ally you shall for ever remain engulved in my heart you supported me in time of need. All my ally had to do is listen and talk to me. Each and every day is a gift, filled with many precious moments. You just have to pause every now and then and acknowledge them, be thankful for them. And when you do, all of those irritations fade into the background. you know Paul do your best anyway, remember Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute the best that they have and all that they are. Mpofu you have been doing this! do not allow the negative thoughts to bring you down" My ally is what kept me to believe and find myself That’s it. Because the greatest need of all of us is simple to be appreciated. When you take two minutes to listen to somebody else, you could be changing their life. They will feel appreciated. Loved. Wanted. And that can sometimes be all the push they need to get out of bed and fight depression. Depression is strong. But love is stronger. So love those around you. Always. I am willing to see my circumstances in a better light. I would sometimes camp to read pastor's moment famours verse “Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable” Philippians 4:8 (GNT). let me encourage you my brother and sister, Are you in a time of darkness? You can’t see the way. You don’t understand what’s happening. It makes no sense to you. Tell God about it and then leave it with Him. He knows the way and He is leading you into a new day. I remember asking myself why do I have to undergo all these mystries? why have I sacrificed to fight for the rights of persons with disabilities and now am the one being haunted? you can imagine putting your life over others and they don't recognize. for me it was do good anyway. I remember in Sunday school when I was young the bibilical story of Joseph. Take Joseph for example. God had told him that he would be ruling one day. Instead, for years he endured the exact opposite. He was rejected by his brothers, sold into slavery and endured a long imprisonment. Yet, all the while God was preparing him for a new day when the promise would become reality. Joseph scenerios kept playing in my mind and I said let it be! Sometimes the worst thing that has ever happened to me eventually became the best thing that ever happened to me. I tried my level best to believe that maybe even the tough times are lead me toward something wonderful.   Today's happiness seems my yeserday tears. now I believe that everything happens for my higher good. I leave you with the great words of Shannon L. Alder, " Your dignity can be mocked, abused, compromised, toyed with, lowered and even badmouthed, but it can never be taken from you. You have the power today to reset your boundaries, restore your image, start fresh with renewed values and rebuild what has happened to you in the past." www.mugambipaul.com

the prison of want. AKA Jela tuitakayo!

Come with me to the most populated prison in the world. The facility has more inmates than bunks. More prisoners than plates. More residents than resources. Come with me to the world’s most oppressive prison. Just ask the inmates; they will tell you. They are overworked and underfed. Their walls are bare and bunks are hard. No prison is so populated, no prison so oppressive, and, what’s more, no prison is so permanent. Most inmates never leave. They never escape. They never get released. They serve a life sentence in this overcrowded, under-provisioned facility. The name of the prison? You’ll see it over the entrance. Rainbowed over the gate are four cast-iron letters that spell out its name: block quote W-A-N-T block quote end The prison of want. You’ve seen her prisoners. They are “in want.” They want something. They want something bigger. Nicer. Faster. Thinner. They want. They don’t want much, mind you. They want just one thing. One new job. One new car. One new house. One new spouse. They don’t want much. They want just one. And when they have “one,” they will be happy. And they are right — they will be happy. When they have “one,” they will leave the prison. But then it happens. The new-car smell passes. The new job gets old. The neighbors buy a larger television set. The new spouse has bad habits. The sizzle fizzles, and before you know it, another ex-con breaks parole and returns to jail. Are you in prison? You are if you feel better when you have more and worse when you have less. You are if joy is one delivery away, one transfer away, one award away, or one makeover away. If your happiness comes from something you deposit, drive, drink, or digest, then face it — you are in prison, the prison of want. Paul says that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6 NIV). When we surrender to God the cumbersome sack of discontent, we don’t just give up something; we gain something. God replaces it with a lightweight, tailor-made, sorrow-resistant attaché? of gratitude. What will you gain with contentment? You may gain your marriage. You may gain precious hours with your children. You may gain your self-respect. You may gain joy. You may gain the faith to say, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” block quote Try saying it slowly. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” Again, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Again, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” block quote end Shhhhhhh. Did you hear something? I think I did. I’m not sure … but I think I heard the opening of a jail door.

Why the disabled in Kenya remain second class citizens in 2018

On september 2002, I wanted to have lunch in one of the restaurants in Nairobi. something millions of Kenyans can do with ease and comfort. Yet when I tried to gain entry the manager and security guard refused my cash, denying her entry because I am totally blind. and I used a white cane. cr. When I followed up called the hotel owner about the incident, the manager coldly stated, “I don’t want him in here, and I don’t have to let him in.” I hope one day Kenyans with disabilities will be granted a hearing by the parliament and senate to understand the extent discrimination and violation of rights has really affected us. With search incidences and many others it makes me and other Blind and disabled fellows vulnerable. “I was not crying on the outside, but I was crying on the inside. I just wanted to eat food like everyone else.” While the cruelty is heartbreaking, the true outrage was that in 2002 we din’t have any law on disability. Fortunately in 2003 Kibaki the former president had to be on a wheelchair in order to sign the already rusty decade bill of persons with disabilities. Many changes have taken place by formation of the national council for persons with disabilities but the poor and vulnerable person with disability are yet to enjoy the struggle. This is due to the bureaucratic processes and the agencies who are surpposed to serve are not commited to ensure access to service is achieved. Persons with disabilities do not have a platform to express there views. Its high time we have a consumer oriented organization in order to ensure government takes responsibilities of its citizens with disabilities. How does a normal Identity card is gotten for free while persons with disabilities have to pay to get the disabled card? At this error why does a blind person receive a white cane instead of technologically oriented hardware? The persons with disabilities 2003 act needs a radical surgery in order to abide with the new constitution 2010 and also the UNCRPD and the Marakesh treaties which Kenya is a a signitory All government agencies need to be monitored and evaluated based on the service delivery on what they have served persons with disabilities. NCPWD needs to change tact from service oriented to monitoring and evaluating and things will never be the same again. Persons with disabilities will be in Canaan!

I choose to be the person I want to be AKA chaguo ni langu

After facing several ups and downs you have to ensure that you don't go down with history that you are the guy who never acted or changed the lemon in to lemonade. to further this issue is when the society awaits you to obey or live within what they call their standards but for me Mpofu namba 1 I see myself that i should strive to be ahead of the game. This is the truth since when you are a Blind person you must strive to convince everyone and more so 5 times that you can make it and you can deliver a certain task. not many employers, business guys believe in us but wait a minute we deliver. what drives the inner me is to know that I want a better generation. future Blind or even other disabled and vulnerable individuals should not undergo adversities or trajedies as I have either been a victim or hard of the unrecorded stories. I normally tell people to Reset there Perception ofthemselves since "The Universe does not respond to who you are, the universe responds to who you think you are, the Universe is responding to who you feel you are. This is such an important insight! The things you allow into your life are a direct reflection of who you FEEL you are. If you FEEL broke, unsuccessful, blocked, stunted, or strained, you can only allow situations that amplify those feelings. this is what happens when you allow your self to guide your mindset. If you FEEL blessed, abundant, free, happy, and successful, you can only allow situations that amplify those feelings. Most of us bounce back and forth between all of these positive and negative feelings from day to day, so we experience a mix of good and bad attractions. To allow a steady flow of abundance, happiness and success, you need to work on FEELING like a person who is abundant, happy and successful on a CONSISTENT BASIS. It's a work in progress, so don't get frustrated if you still bounce around a bit as you work on it. Just keep "resetting" your perception of yourself and steadily lean in the direction of being that blessed, abundant person, and in a relatively short period of time you'll notice substantial corresponding movement in your outer life. read more on www.mugambipaul.com It's good to have standards in life. Mpofu namba 1 I strife to have high staandards. Don't settle just because it's what's expected of you. It is good to stand for something - I believe disability rights are rights like any other. we deserve respect and dignity. don't just wait for the flow to drag you along. It is good to have your own dream - don't grow old living another's dream. Take chances on life. i have done it, why not you? Take chances on yourself. Push your own limits. Walking your own path may mean wading through unfamiliar territories. it surely pays when you have a stand. you might face tribulations but sun rises after darkness. But it is also a change to get to your destiny experienced and stronger. I remember vividly when I had to make the ultimate decition of furthering my career after short service and the experience i gained from the hunchoes a story for another day. I found myself at the helm, no one to count on, when I looked behind, right, left, centre all of them had gone. it was a tamutious voyage from the top of the mountain and now the task of of making to the peak. anyway walking alone is scary, but the perks are more enjoyable than being stuck on the cheering squad. this made me realize that when you have standards, you are fearless! what kept me on the cliff is nowing that what I was doing was extremely right and virtuous for geneerations yet to come. I have never dared not to talk to any person no matter the status since i nkew where I am coming from and what I want to live behind when God decides to invite me kule kwake. I would interact with different cadres of people and i would appreciate there insites. some times many heart breaking stories, others begging for support which was mostly even beyond my capacity. Don't devalue or hurt anyone in life. You may be powerful today, but remember, time is more powerful than you! One tree makes a million match sticks & only one stick is needed to burn a million trees. So be good and do good because time and circumstances can change at any time........... ~  I choose to be the person I want to be.

My dream AKA Ndoto yangu:

My dream We need to care for the most vulnerable people in our society and we need to make sure that the world we pass onto our children is better than what we found when we were born. I know I am Blind and I have lived with this great experience for more than 2 decades. I am proud to be Blind and the voice of the voiceless within the society. Especially the disability movement and the most vulnerable persons in the society. I am aware we are treated like third class citizens. My prayer is one day I will be in parliament. "To hit the ground, well, if not running, then moving in a rapid direction." As always the rights of persons with disabilities will be the top agenda. “My generation is one that is alive with the desire to make change; cognizant of the fact that if we do not do so, the world in which we will live … will be so much bleaker for it,” Some times while I meditate and dream I find myself talking to myself what I would do while in parliament. I trust One of the things I'm hoping and excited to do is to bring those lived experiences and those different perspectives into the institution. "It is very clear to anybody who takes the time to look that the disabled people are no longer satisfied with what they are getting from the current disability politics from the counties, parliament and senate. Having gotten education to expand more knowledge and experience on public policy development, implementation. I believe When we have diversity in that decision-making process then we get good legislation. The current situation in my country we have made steps of having representation of persons with disabilities but we have not yet achieved quality representation. I know this is a contested issue among the disability movement what should come first interms of either service or proper representation. I live it to the public to judge. We still have a long way of ensuring proper legislation are made which are more inclusive, Having the updated versions of persons with disabilities act, Kenya society of the blind act, Having new legislations like a carers bill and the access of technology which are very crusual bills which could enhance service delivery and improve the living standards of persons with disabilities. No one should be left behind the clarion call from the SDG. Having executive orders on some issues are paramount anyway it depends who advices the executive on disability matters. e.g a clear order on white cane usage, sign language interpretation, issuance of wheelchair and other assistive devices.--------------tutaongea tena. You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain a mount of madness . In this case ,it comes from non conformity ,the courage to turn your back on the old formulas ,the courage to invent the future .It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity . Today i want to be one of these madmen .We must dare to invent the future. -Thomas Sankara www.mugambipaul.com "Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life experience mold us into fascinating beings. I hope we can embrace that. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to cultivate an atmosphere of understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and compassion. We are all in this life together."

Ability Sounds: Guide me God "niongoze Rabuka"

Ability Sounds: Guide me God "niongoze Rabuka": Father, guide my thoughts before they become my words. Place a guard over my mouth and a watchman over the door of my lips. When I open my ...

Guide me God "niongoze Rabuka"

Father, guide my thoughts before they become my words. Place a guard over my mouth and a watchman over the door of my lips. When I open my mouth, I ask You to fill it with right words, good words, true words, loving words—words that will point the way to Your heart. May my words be acceptable and pleasing to You as You hear their sound and know the intent behind them. Use my words this day to heal and not harm, to restore and not separate, to extend mercy and not judgment, to build up and not pull down, to comfort and not injure, to bring sunlight and not shadows, to encourage and not quench, to mend and not wound. God you know my mission and vision let it be stuck and let the will be done. May my words herald good news, be seasoned with salt, and bring grace to the hearer. you know I belong to a territory where am supposed to do things triple times more than my peers. Not many will understand being Blind and being denied opportunities how it feels. If I am to speak correction, may it be with compassion; if I am to exhort, may it be with humility; If I am to instruct, may it be with brokenness; if I am to guide, may it be with wisdom; if I am to inform, may it be with clarity; if I am to counsel, may it be according to Your word. Guard my tongue from murmuring and my voice from complaint. In all things, may my mouth be filled with words of gratitude, expressions of praise, and proclamations of Your faithfulness. continue making me strong and stronger despite the winds and waves of life. let me be the ultimate winner under your cover.. Scriptures: Exodus 4:15, Psalm 19:14, Psalm 141:3, 2 Timothy 2:14-15, 24-25, 1 Peter 4:11,  Colossians 3:15, 4:6

Facing Trials yani kupitia majaribio!

Facing Trials “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 quote end Mawazo: “Hang in there!” There are few traits more important than perseverance. Most important accomplishments in life happen because of perseverance. Most “luck” occurs when we’ve persevered long enough for the “magical moment” to come along — in other wordsI have seen it all from my own experience as I advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. ww.mugambipaul.com you have to have “roho ya chuma” , I don’t believe in luck. Edison said it best: life’s greatest feats, the world’s greatest discoveries, his own most fantastic inventions are “1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” “Hang in there!” and see the glory of God come through in you, not because of luck, but because of God’s grace, love, and Providence! After all the persons I expected to ride along the voyage dropped on the way I was left with one option. One of the assignments against the people of God is to oppress them by wearing them down (Daniel 7:25). You may have experienced debilitating discouragement. You may feel assaulted and assailed from every side. In the name of the Ancient of Days, you can resist this oppression. Hear God’s words in 2 Chronicles 20:15 and 17. “This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'” You can be afraid and discouraged because of the vast army against you, or you can be confident and encouraged because God is with you. He is your hope and your victory in the battle. In His great heart He has a plan for your welfare, to give you a future and a hope. You are anointed with grace to stand with hope, encouragement, and positive assurance of seeing His goodness at work in your life. Run to the joy of the Lord that is your strength. Be blessed with endurance and encouragement as you stand in the One who fights your battles for you. Look to your Father in heaven in devotion and trust. He is with you when you are discouraged and not at peace. His presence never leaves nor forsakes you. The name of the Lord is a strong tower to which you can run and are safe (Proverbs 18:10). Hide there in Him from the devourer and the accuser. Hide in Him from heaviness and discouragement. He wants to cover your weariness with His blanket of strength. I remember vividly how those who benefited or have hard me advocating for rights of persons with disabilities offered moral support via prayers and others kept communicating. I had to be careful of the moves I make that’s why God’s promises upon me have taken place. Once you take the high risk of sacrificing for the majority blessings follow you in a mighty way. Even if some will wear sheep’s skin you must match ahead. My ally who never left me on this journey for ever, no matter what you will remain glued to me You so me throu the storms and ensured I crossed safely. You reminded me of the many happenings in my life of which sometimes I forgot to say thanks to the almighty and these kept me focused. “You have celebrated His intervention in your life many times and many ways. Be blessed to remember how He has shown Himself strong to you. He gives endurance and encouragement. He will continue to reveal Himself to you.” Life is all about evolution. What looks like a mistake to others has been a milestone in my life. Even if people have betrayed me, even if my heart was broken, even if people misunderstood or judged me, I have learned from these incidents. We are human and we make mistakes, but learning from them is what makes the difference. Jesus rebuked winds and waves, saying, “Peace be still.” You are blessed by the One who stills the storms (Mark 4:39). Another time, Jesus commanded Peter, “Come to me.” Peter stepped out of the boat onto the wind-driven waters, but when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves, he sank. Whether Jesus stills the storm or invites you to come to Him on it, you will be steadfast, immovable in Him, unless you look at the tempest. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. He will come alongside, lift you up, strengthen, and refine you to bring about His sure purposes. You can stand in the rule and dominion of the Prince of peace. Be blessed in His great faithfulness to you that is new every morning. Be blessed in the name of the One who bids you come to Him (Matthew 14:29).

disability fact 1

"Disability and the world There are an estimated one billion people with disabilities, 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income settings. People with disabilities are more likely to be poor, and are also vulnerable to exclusion from education, employment and social participation more generally. Health is also a common concern among people with disabilities, and the relationship between disability and health is complex. People with disabilities on average are more likely to experience poor health, and so will have higher needs for accessing health care services. These services may be for general healthcare (e.g., vaccination, sexual and reproductive healthcare, or cancer services) or those specifically related to their impairment (e.g., ophthalmology, assistive devices, physiotherapy). Yet, people with disabilities often report experiencing difficulties accessing services, receiving lower-quality services and paying more for healthcare services. Together, this means that people with disabilities are being left behind in terms of improving access to health, which will make achievement of Universal Health Coverage difficult.

Have you had his voice?

When one is born they are in a unique way welcomed in the world of everything; good and bad. However, by all means, good things must overcome what is bad. Life may not be that simple but what keeps us going is the spirit of progress within ourselves which makes it smoother. Bad things do happen; how one responds to them defines their character and the quality of my life. We can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of the loss, or one can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift they have - life itself. It is upon us to celebrate the gift of life for we have genuine reasons to do so. No matter the experiences we have gone through, we must ask themselves what have we done that we are alive this day. Life is something special we should always thank The Most High for. Usually, every season of a year have some specialty and all ages are beautiful and enchanting. I don’t recall why, but I remember when I had cleared high school I decided to run away from home. Problem: I wasn’t allowed to cross the street. You know being Blind is an issue. So I trudged around the block with my little pink paper bag of cloths in one hand and my stuffed lion under my arm. Within several hours I had circled the routes and ended up finding a new place of my own where I started my humble beginnings my family back at home were in tears thinking I have gone for good. It was not an easy ride since guys on the road talk about you while thinking that the Blind guy can’t hear. With hope and believe in myself I made it. What made me recall this incident I won’t reveal how many decades later? While preparing to give a talk to some radio talkshow, I found these children’s letters to God online. This one in particular spoke a deep truth. block quote “You don’t have to worry about me. I always look both ways.” (DEAN) block quote end As a small child, I had strict boundaries and knew the rules. It appears Dean does as well. As long as he looks both ways before crossing the street, nothing bad will happen to him, right? If only life was so easy. As adults we get used to weighing the odds and making all the decisions. We set the rules. We decide our actions. We plot our course. Problem is, we can’t predict the future. Sometimes we assume the way is clear. We quickly glance first then head out. WHAM – life hits us unexpectedly. Didn’t see that coming. Didn’t detect it, hear it, smell it, or even fathom it. A tornado siren sounds one minute and your whole life ripped apart the next. The phone rings. A routine blood test comes back with bad news. A pink slip lands on your desk. But after the shell shock, we may realize that someone was watching out for us. Something prepared us in ways we never knew. A hand held on and yanked us out of the way, or drew us closer. A quiet thought, steadfast rule, or profound statement embedded in our subconscious begins to acts as a lifeline. We cling to it. Such as Romans 8:28 or Philippians 4:6-7 or Psalm 121:3-8. Or my mother’s admonition to never cross the street alone. Perhaps we adults need to be more childlike and go back to the basics. Ask permission. Seek guidance. Wouldn’t it be more wise to look again–just in case–instead of being so sure of ourselves as little Dean is? Maybe we need to grab Daddy’s hand more often, no matter how big we feel we are. As you walk through this day, listen for God’s voice and be confident that he knows where you are right now and can show you the way! We just have to listen and be willing to follow where He leads!

Positive thinking Mawazo chanya 2

By the time we come to the end of the year, we will certainly be a different people from who we are today. That change will most likely be the sum total of our thoughts. The Bible says, “As a man thinketh so is he.” Allow me, therefore, to hasten to say that it matters a lot the thoughts you entertain and harbour as we scale the ladder of 2018. What you eventually become this year will almost entirely depend on the nature and quality of your thoughts. Think positively for a painless life. Norman Vincent Peale, in his book The Power of Positive Thinking, first published in 1952, advocates a permanent constructive and optimistic attitude through constant positive influence of conscious thoughts. The writer believes that through positive thinking, we can achieve a higher satisfaction and quality of life. Indeed, positive thinking holds the secret to success in overcoming life challenges and finding solutions. Positive thinkers are generally solutionists as opposed to fault-finders who blame anything in sight. A positive thinker tends to enjoy acceptance by and stronger relationships with those around him or her. Positive thinking helps builds hope. As we probably all know, hope does not disappoint. High self-esteem is said to be such an asset in one’s life. We should, however, know that this self-esteem does not grow in an environment toxified with negativity. Those who entertain negative thoughts will inevitably develop low self-esteem. Only positive thinkers appreciate themselves or who they are, those around them and generally the environment in which they are located. I cannot figure out how we can possibly build a great Kenya unless we appreciate the power of positive thinking. Positive thinkers are the only people who see possibilities and would not let anything come between them and the goals they have set out to achieve individually and collectively. Dan Cassidy says that people who are successful tend to predominantly have thoughts of optimism for health, wealth and abundance. He encourages us to adopt a positive belief system because our thoughts, which create our reality, are products of our beliefs. As we take majestic steps towards our individual and corporate destiny, seizing every opportunity that 2018 presents, I take the latitude to remind us that our thoughts lead to behaviours; behaviours lead to habits and habits create our life. The quality of service delivery, take for instance, the disability movement, where I work, will be determined largely by the quality of thoughts of the people. Those thoughts influence the fans collective behaviours, decisions and actions. Since it is not a secret that at the social media want to finish strong and to make disability movement great, I encourage the fans, as we do all Kenyans, to unleash the power of positive thinking for our individual and collective good. This will make a world a better place where no one is left behind