Douglas Nyaoko, Sheila Nyanchera's journey of raising surviving 4 of the quintuplets

 On April 17, news of a young couple giving birth to quintuplets at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital sent their Bobaracho village into a frenzy.

That day, Douglas Nyaoko, 23, and his wife Sheila Nyanchera, 25, immediately became the centre of attention.

At tea buying centres, on social media platforms, boda boda pick-up points, video halls, tea kiosks and even in bars, the couple was the subject of discussion for a while.

Those who knew Mr Nyaoko, especially his age mates, sent congratulatory messages, with some giving him the tag ‘Akuku Danger,’ not because he was polygamous but because he had fathered five children at once.

Every time he appeared in public, locals would salute him, calling him a ‘real man’ who had shown his sexual potency.

Eight months later, the Nation caught up with the couple, who shared the challenges of bringing up four babies at once, after one of the quintuplets died after birth.

Ms Nyanchera wakes up as early as 5am to start her day. She first prepares tea for her husband, who trades in jua kali products in Kisii town.

Wash nappies

When we arrived at their home a few minutes past 7am on Monday, he had already arrived in town, about five kilometres from their rural home, but he returned home on a motorbike to grant us an interview.

“After making breakfast for him, I pick the next chore, which is washing the utensils. By this time the kids are asleep. I then wash the nappies. All these will take me close to two hours,” says Ms Nyanchera.

“By 8am, I wake up my children (Cornelius, Angela, Blessings and Joyline). Cornelius is the only boy while the other three are girls and that is the order of their birth,” Ms Nyanchera says.

This has been her routine for the past eight months.

She cherishes the support she gets from her husband, parents and relatives, who have been kind enough to ensure that the children are well taken care of.

During clinic visits, Nyaoko carries two children, one on his back and the other on his chest. His wife carries the remaining two the same way.

Mr Nyaoko said he has learnt some lessons from dealing with quadruplets, the most practical one being on apparel.

Buy clothes

“I used to hear some things about twins but never took them seriously. For instance, I would hear people say that you have to buy twins things of the same colour, especially clothes,” he said.

“My mother told me that if you do not buy clothes of the same colour for them, one of the twins will feel unwell and we have observed this. If we are buying them sweaters or shoes, they must be of the same colour.”

Raising the children has not been easy for the young couple.

The family received materials and cash support from well-wishers when the children were born.

But Mr Nyaoko said he had spent every coin he received buying diapers, while the earnings from his job are inadequate.

“It is tough for sure, but God’s grace has been sufficient,” he said.

“Kenyans from different walks of life and corporations offered us some help but it has run out. However, we are trying our best where we can to raise these gifts from God,” Ms Nyanchera said.

One thing that worries the couple is a report that they were given by a nutritionist when they last visited a clinic on December 22.

Mr Nyaoko, said they were told the children had not reached the required weight for their age. Cornelius, Angelina, Blessings and Joyline now weigh 5.8kg, 5.2kg, 5.1kg and 4.2kg respectively.

Well–wishers

At birth, the first and second-born weighed 1.5kg each, while the third and fourth-born weighed 1.2kg and 1.1kg respectively. The baby that died was the last-born and she weighed 1.1kg.

Ms Nyanchera has only one appeal to make to well–wishers, well aware that her family cannot depend on donations or tokens from others their entire lives.

Her wish is for her and her husband to get jobs. She believes this will help them raise their children more effectively.

“People out there who read about our story and have job opportunities, please take either me or my husband so that we can support our young family,” she said.

“People promised to consider us when they visited us and even took pictures with us, but we have yet to hear from them. My husband’s jua kali business does not bring enough and we come from a humble background.”

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