Disability Is Not Inability IS NOT

Paul Kikolya is married and blessed with 4 children (1 boy and 3 girls). Paul was born with a physical disability whereby his both legs were intertwined at birth and later on they were partially rectified. He was given the name Kikolya which in Kikamba means intertwined because of his condition. He can be able to walk but can’t stand for long because the legs are unsteady and weak. This form of disability was transferred to his two children who are also physically challenged. The two disabled children are in special schools for the disabled whereby they have been sponsored by the APDK (Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya) through the government. Paul is a small-scale famer who plants vegetables and green maize then sells to the local vendors. His wife supplies water using donkeys to construction sites and nearby schools to get fees for their children in secondary schools.

He says, “I am a member of Kiangini disabled group and through this we have received several trainings on good agricultural farming practices and been supported with a farm pond which has water for irrigation. From the various trainings done, have adopted the use of Zai pits farming which uses little water as compared to the use of furrows”. Paul is also a member of Wikwatyo WA Miwani VSL group. He has been able to get loans and repay over time.

Paul narrates, “I have seen a huge change in my household through increased incomes. Initially I would plant maize in 8 acres of land but manage to harvest only 2 bags of 90kgs each, but currently plant 2 acres in practice of conservation agriculture and a portion of zaipits yet I manage to get 3 to 4 bags of maize. In March I planted kales, coriander and tomatoes whereby I sold them for KES 20,300 as compared to before where I could get zero since I didn’t have the knowledge and skills. These sales supports the family needs like food and clearing out pending loans.’’

“In our shamba, we have planted maize and kales. We are selling the green maize at KES 30 per piece. So far, have sold KES 2050 and I anticipate to get close to KES 10,000 which will support the household to survive during these dry and hard economic times. I am grateful to ADSE who has really walked us the journey to where we are today. Its only in my farm now where you can get green maize at this time of the year in the whole village and I don’t take it for granted because I should work smart and hard to do the farming in large scale since the returns are huge.” Smiling Kikolya says.