Honia-Heal Afrika Initiative (HAI)

Gitau wa Kung’u (profgitauwakungu@gmail.com).

A person who is severely impaired never knows his hidden sources of strength until he is treated like a normal human being and encouraged to shape his own life.” Hellen Adams Keller- 1955.

Hellen Keller was an author, activist and educator who lost her sight and hearing abilities at her early age. Nevertheless, the lamentable plight didn’t blockade her to achieve her vision and even get recognised among the Times Magazine 20th Century’s 100 Most Influential People.

The legendary woman’s paragon of inspiration continues today in the heart of the Visually Impaired Visionaries Self-Help Group (VIV SHG). They are blind persons to many but are not blind if you meet and interact with them.

They are a group of 16 visually impaired persons with an incredible vision that will amaze you. The Self-Help group was formed by ten (10) members in Murang’a County and come from myriad districts from within Mt. Kenya region. It was founded by the late Mr. Christopher Kamau in 2021.

Under the current chairpersonship of Mr. Paul Githinji Maina, the group envisions owning a series of companies and manufacturing firms, starting with a Bakery Company in the near future.

I first met the officials at their rented office in Karega, Kigumo Sub-County on 19th Dec 2023. I had been invited by Mrs. Agatha Mungai (she’s their coordinator through USAID) invited me to meet the VIV officials. I was on a Honia (Heal) Afrika Initiative (HAI) errand seeking partnership with the group for a People Living with Disability (PLDs) empowerment project. HAI was seeking commitee members for the project from the SHG.

In 2022, the VIV group presented their project proposal by filling the Safaricom Foundation’s ‘Nyota Ndogo’ funding  application form. On 23rd April 2023, an electric baking machine (oven) and electric mixer (Nov. 2023) were delivered at their office on donation by the Safaricom Foundation.

However, the cake baking project is yet to start owing to different challenges. Capital of them is that the baking machine requires a 3-phase electric power input to operate but their office has the 2-phase electric connection. The SHG has spent more than Ksh 50, 000 trying to have the building’s electric connection to the 3-phase. The whole baking equipment is valued at Ksh 370,000. 

The team has 80% completed the project launch. They’re now working on rooms renovation, getting health licencing, KEBS certificate and procuring necessaries like sweetcake cups.  They’re now expecting a trainer and hopes for a financial breakthrough that will empower them to start baking operations before the dawn of April. 

 They envision creating employment for the youths skilled in baking, hospitality, sales and marketing among other fields for the baking, packing, supplying and distributing baking products. 

VIVs hope to be applying for and winning tenders to supply baking products in local shopping centres, schools, health facilities government offices and social events in the near future. “We lost our eyesight, but not our Vision.”

Mr. Githinji is an inspiration to his team and many people. 

He’s a worthy example representing those who were born abled but became disabled in one way or another during their pre or adulthood years. He was diagnosed with Diabetes and HBP in 2010. He was later affected by glaucoma. The VIV chairperson had an unsuccessful eye surgery. He lost his eyesight in 2018.

He has faced and vanquished very many challenges since 2010. “First I lost my driver and sales and marketing job for Irere yoghurt. My wife and two children deserted me. Like most of us here and out there, we’ve had to fight and overcome stress, including suicidal thoughts and attempts. We believe God has a reason, and a mission for us whose purpose he’s already leading us to achieve,” Mr. Githinji exudes wisdom.

The VIV members have singers among them (Winnie Maina-she’s also a massage therapist). They have learned new skills like knitting (Judith Wangechi), leather and tanning (Daniel Mwangi). Others strive against the odds in MSMEs sector like Ms. Mercy and agribusiness like misters Festus, Chege and Thiong’o. 

VIV membership has grown to 16 and hopes to increase tremendously in the next few years. “We are very grateful to open this new year by welcoming the Honia Afrika Initiative’s (HAI) compassionate idea on partnership for empowerment of PLDs not only for this team but also others as well,” Ms. Judith Wangechi, a VIV official said.

HAI will partner the Visually Impaired Visionaries in presenting draft amendments to the Persons Living with Disability Act, draft policies to the Public Service Commission to improve the Disability Policy and Guidelines for Public Service and also cooperate with the National Council for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD) in a bid to participate in government efforts in Climate Change mitigation. Another project will involve the CS sports and council of governors to develop Paralympics-like sports competitions in the country.

Honia Afrika Initiative (HAI) is an upcoming Pan Africanist CBO in Kigumo, Murang’a County. HAI is envisioned to proactively partake in healing Africa from socioeconomic, cultural, linguistic wounds and other structures of the African community influenced and affected by colonialism. Behold, Mama Afrika is in labour. The birth of Africa’s greatest modern civilisation is upon us.

HAI and VIV hopes to collaborate with the Public Service Commission, National Council for Persons with Disabilities, United Nations Human Rights Programme, other communities, SHGs, CBOs, NGOs, private sector, county and national government departments to kick-start the establishment of Mr. and Miss Kenya Abled Differently by launching Mr. & Miss Abled Differently Murang’a County next month. Thus the conception of Mr. and Miss Universe D.N.I. (Disability is Not Inability).

{Gitau wa Kung’u is a 3rd year Moi University student, unpublished author, editor, poet, activist, blogger, upcoming strategic planning and policy thinker. He’s the brainchild of Kigumo University Students Association (KUSA), Murang’a Students Association (MUSA) and founder of Honia Afrika Initiative (HAI)}