Mr David Njuguna and his wife Esther Wanjiku with their three children who suffer from cerebral palsy at their home in Karati in Naivasha.

| Macharia Mwangi | Nation Media Group

In the face of adversity, Naivasha family glued together by love

Last year, her employer gave her an ultimatum to either report to work dutifully or be sacked. Esther Wanjiku, a mother of four, opted for the latter: She was summarily dismissed.

The decision was a bitter pill to swallow but she chose to take the bullet for the sake of the family which, she says, comes first.

Ms Wanjiku had been forced to skip work to attend to her three children, suffering from cerebral palsy and ailing at the time, forcing the devoted mother to stay at home.

The sacking, as she expected, started taking a toll on the family as she was the sole breadwinner, with her husband largely dependent on menial jobs.

“The shocker was expected and the aftermath manifested as days passed by,” opened up Ms Wanjiku.

Ms Esther Wanjiku in a pensive mood.

Photo credit: Macharia Mwangi | Nation Media Group

She regrets that her employer failed to take into consideration her children’s plight despite having explained her predicament.

“I clearly stated my position but no one was willing to listen to me,” she said, with bile rising in her throat.

What followed was an emotional rollercoaster that continues to torment her to date.

When the Nation caught up with her at the family’s one-room rented house in Karate Village on the outskirts of Naivasha town, she was busy fanning fire outside her main door, boiling githeri (a mixture of beans and maize).

In the face of adversity, Naivasha family glued together by love

Kept crying

But she was distracted as her two children suffering from cerebral palsy kept crying as their sister, aged 13, attempted to appease them.

The daughter also suffers from cerebral palsy and could not manage to placate the inconsolable pair.

Mr David Njuguna and his wife Esther Wanjiku who have three children with cerebral palsy at their home in Karati in Naivasha.

Photo credit: Macharia Mwangi | Nation Media Group

“I have to stay close to my children due to their conditions, tending to them round the clock,” said Ms Wanjiku, fighting back tears.

Delving into the genesis of their current condition, she says they were born normal children but developed complications, incidentally, at four months old.

“The boy aged 11 years developed problems at four months, same as his six-year-old sister. But the 13-year-old girl developed problems at the age of six,” narrated the mother.

Soon after detecting their abnormal condition, she sought help at several health facilities where they were first diagnosed with rickets, treated and discharged.

But the 11-year-old's condition did not improve, forcing the mother to seek help at a different hospital but he never improved.

It was a similar script for the six-old, leading to their present condition that continues to cause mental anguish for the entire family.

Was the family jinxed? That is the question that kept popping up on her mind. It still does.

Her acquaintances have not helped matters and talk behind her back, accusing the middle-aged woman of witchcraft among other evil things.

“My strong faith has kept me going … otherwise I would have broken down in despair. My husband has also been a beacon of hope,” added Ms Wanjiku.

She fully depends on the husband for upkeep as she cannot venture out to work due to the condition of the children.

Family’s woes

During the interview, her husband, David Njuguna, walks in and, looking exhausted, settles on a chair and attentively listens to his wife narrate the family’s woes.

“She is a strong woman. Were it not for her, we would have broken down. She has been my comfort and pillar of strength,” he joins the conversation.

Mr Njuguna's typical day starts early in the morning when he steps out of the house to look for menial jobs across the fields within the neighbourhoods.

“Sometimes I walk home empty-handed having failed to get a job,” he says.

He confesses that bringing up children with cerebral palsy is an herculean task.

Mr David Njuguna during the interview. He has three children suffering from cerebral palsy.

Photo credit: Macharia Mwangi | Nation Media Group

The family depends on well-wishers for a boost and a listening ear of their landlord who has been sympathetic to their predicament despite going for months without settling their house rent dues.

Despite having to contend with a myriad of challenges, Mr Njuguna is happy that the family remains close-knit and soldiering on in the face of adversity.

They are happy for educating their firstborn daughter who undertook driving and computer lessons and hopes she will be able to secure a job soon.

“If she can be able to secure employment at least she will be able to help us shoulder some of the burdens,” pointed out the father.

With his meagre savings, he is hoping to purchase a parcel of land and build a family house.

“That is my dream. At least my wife will start an income project like chicken rearing to keep us going,” said Mr Njuguna.

The affection in the family is unmistakable despite the obvious challenges. Love has glued them together, coupled with the strength of mind.