Narok disabled man’s farming success story

Ann Salaton, KNA

Mukare Mpusia, 43, is abled differently. He was born with a physical disability that compromised his ability to engage in casual labour.

Born in Narosura, Narok, where disability is often viewed as a curse, Mpusia’s parents hid him at an early age, denying him a chance to go to school.

He grew up depending on his parents for livelihood until at the age of 20 when their communal land was subdivided and Mpusia luckily got a share of the 20 acres.

Mr. Mpusia started rearing a few livestock but struggled to earn a living to maintain his two wives and 13 children who fully depended on him who would often be chased from school for lack of school fees. 

Despite having a huge chunk of land, placing a plate of food on the table was a nightmare.  The situation often brought tension to his family where he often fought his wives.

However, his life changed when World Vision invited him to attend the Empowered World View (EWV) training, which opened up his mind on his great potential despite the disability.

After the training, he was able to appreciate his wives and children and together they sat down and established an economic plan. He prioritized planting maize, beans and goat rearing.

“I started by planting maize in one acre and harvested six bags that I sold at Sh65,000. I used the money to pay school fees for my children.

"With the surplus, I purchased two he-goats which after two months, I sold at Sh14, 000. I used Sh4,500 to farm maize and beans in my one-acre piece of land,” he said.

His farming activities are fostered by ‘Erasaroto Enkongu Enkare’ self-help group where he saves and accesses loans to expand his farming activities.

“Since the training by EWV, my family is more united and happier. My two wives relate with each other well and all our children live together happily. There is enough food for all my family members,” he said happily.

When we visited, he was busy at his farm with his first wife as the other wife had just delivered their 13th baby.

The couple reiterated that through the farming business, they are able to educate their children comfortably and provide them with other basic needs.

He advised people living with disabilities struggling to earn a living to identify their unique strength and explore it as income-generating activity instead of begging for money from society.