Budding journalist grapples with the reality of losing his sight

Five years ago, Walter Kipngetich Chepkwony became blind. Coupled with this, his wife of ten years deserted him taking with her their only child.

Once a promising journalist, Chepkwony, 36, is now coming to terms with his condition after he suffered a stroke that left him blind. He had honed his skills during a three month attachment at KNA Kericho in 2006.

He holds a diploma holder in journalism and media studies from Eldoret Aviation Institute. But he believes his dream of becoming a journalist will come true one day.

We caught up with him at Kericho Vocational and Rehabilitation centre (KVRC) in Kericho town, where he is a student undertaking Braille and computer classes for the visually impaired. He has made a choice of re-collecting and re-energizing himself, with the pain of knowing he will not be able to see again.

It all began with a mild stroke

He walks to his room unaided and brings an attachment report from KNA Kericho dated 16th August 2006 by the then bureau chief, Mr Moses Nyandika, who described Chepkwony as having exhibited great potential in journalism as most of his stories got space in the mainstream media notably KBC, Citizen Radio and Nation newspaper.

According to Chepkwony, life has not been easy. He reveals that he suffered a mild stroke in 2009 which he ignored, a mistake that he regrets dearly. At the time he was happily married and a father of one.

On the fateful day in December Chepkwony reveals that he woke up in the morning ready to go to work but realized that he could not move his right leg. After spending four days at his rural home in Sondu Township within Kericho County, he suffered another mild stroke that left his right hand paralysed.

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After six months while at his rural home he lost his eyesight and all movement on the right side of his body, prompting him to seek medical treatment. “It was very traumatizing for me as I woke up on that day to realize I could not see or move my right side of the body,” said Chepkwony.

His condition deteriorated and soon he was mentally incapacitated and was hospitalized at Moi Teaching and referral hospital Eldoret for two years during which he was fed intravenously. On being discharged from hospital he sought outpatient treatment from eight different hospitals within the county and his condition remained the same despite spending all his savings forcing his family to pool resources.

“I spent Ksh1 million on medical treatment but nothing changed. I became like a baby and was forced to rely on my wife and family for everything as I could not move or speak or eat,” he adds.

Chepkwony, the last born in a family of eight, says this was the beginning of his nightmare as he was now confined to a wheel chair and relied on his family for everything including feeding and releaving himself. Armed with no prospects of ever getting better he resorted to traditional doctors who eft him broke.

Chepkwony now was faced with the bitter reality that he could no longer fend for his family or take care of himself.

And his wife runs away…..

In 2013, his wife ran away with their only child, a daughter, something he is still bitter about. He was forced to permanently relocate to his rural home. “The tragedy did not dampen my resolve to fulfill my dream as I one day see myself joining university and pursuing journalism. I worked very hard to stop being dependent on my elder sister who assisted me in my movements when I was confined to a wheelchair until when I started walking unaided or to use my white cane,” he adds.

The tragedy saw him join Kericho Rehabilitation and Vocational School to learn Braille skills in 2014. It is here that he learnt how to walk with a cane and pursue a computer course for the visually impaired persons.

“I realised that I needed to change the way people perceived me. My sister encouraged me a lot and this boosted my self-esteem and my recovery. My family sponsored me for this course after I learnt how to walk again, to feed myself, to take a bath on my own just those things we take for granted when we have our sight. I have never considered begging an option to earn a living and I believe I can compete like the able bodied persons,” Chepkwony adds.

The manager of the institution, Mr Mwangi Muheria, said the centre has advanced tools and skilled instructors who train and mentor the persons living with disabilities (PWD) students. Mr. Mwangi notes that when PWD’s are equipped with useful skills and use them productively they are able to be independent.

Down but not out….

His class teacher Ms Beatrice Kirui, who is also visually impaired, adds that Chepkwony who has been a student at the institution for the last 18 months, is progressing well and has since stopped to use of the cane.  “Chepkwony is a strong willed student, he is keen at his work, very social and beyond doubt he will excel in his courses,” said Ms Kirui.

A determined Chepkwony who is sponsoring himself for the two courses affirms that he will push himself to reach his goal of becoming an award winning journalist despite losing his sight.  “I was confined to a wheel chair for a long time and many had lost faith that I would ever walk again,” he says. “Success belongs to us all, it does not matter your physical condition. I may not have my sight but through determination I can now read Braille. I know for a fact that one day I will achieve my dream of becoming a successful journalist.” (KNA)

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