It is the prayer of all parents to have healthy children who can grow up and easily fend for themselves, but for Mr Edward Gitonga, a father of 10 children and a resident of Kirogine Village in Meru County, such hopes have no meaning as five of his children are disabled.
The situation has left family members with many unanswered questions because all doctors who have handled the cases have never determined the real cause of the problems.
“The complications cropped after birth, they were born normal but as they grew up we noted that they started developing complications.
“They have both mental and physical problems which have made them unable to attend school. As a family we cannot afford paying school fees for all them in a special school,” the father of 10 sadly narrated.
The father further explained that after realising the complication on his firstborn son, he took him to the hospital for treatment but the doctor did not detect anything wrong.
“I was not in a position to seek further treatment in order to get the root cause of this disease. I was then told that it was just a normal infection and all would be well. Little did I know that five of my beloved children would also be affected,” he said.
He further said the disease has struck four out five of his sons and one daughter out of the five girls.
“I don’t understand why this infection has affected the boys more than the girls. The disease has affected the first five children, but the other five young ones are fine,” he added.
The family has faced further struggle after Mr Gitonga, who was the sole breadwinner, developed a heart problem after working with a construction firm for a long time.
“I started having difficulties in breathing at my working place, when I sought medication I was told cement was the major cause and was advised to stop doing casual work because my health condition was not good,” he added.
Mr Gitonga sought an alternative of venturing in to local farming to sustain his family. He started by rearing two rabbits.
“I have a small farm that I have planted spinach and I sell them at least Sh100 per day, it helps us to buy food and some basic needs for my sick children because none of them is in a position to cater for himself/herself,” Mr Gitonga said.
Mrs Lucy Kanambiu, a neighbour, said she has stayed with the family since the year 1989 when she bought the piece of land from them.
“I have stayed with the family for more than 20 years and they are good people. I have employed one of his daughters, who I pay so that she can get something small to sustain herself and the family at large,” she said.
She added that she is not in a position to explain the real cause of the disease that affects the family, but she sees four sons and one daughter physically and mentally challenged.
“I appeal to well-wishers and the department of social services to come on ground and help this family because I also help them but they need more support to have a healthy and sustainable life,” she said.
