Indeed disability is not inability and one, Simon Njoroge, who is Deaf can vouch for this.
Njoroge, who works as an assistant to Dr.Peter Jackson at Riverside Dental Suite in Nairobi is also a cycling enthusiast and uses his cycling skills which he learned using his father’s black Mamba, to create awareness with an aim of educating road users, particularly motorists, that cyclists are also rightful road users.
“I cycle for fun, good causes, fitness, mental health and creating awareness… the aim is to educate road users, particularly motorists, that cyclists are also rightful road users and urge them to share the road because every life counts,” he said
For his safety, Njoroge uses a whistle to communicate with pedestrians to move out of the way.
During Deaf awareness month in September, Njoroge cycled across different parts of the country seeking to raise awareness of the Deaf.
Following his abrupt loss of hearing at the age of 6, his dream of becoming a professional mason was disrupted. Having studied building and construction at the Karen Technical Training Institute for the Deaf, Njoroge hoped that one day he would be a professional in his field of study.
He abruptly lost his hearing when helping his mother with farm work in his hometown in Maragua, Murang’a County.
While narrating his story, he said, “I never felt ill. I was helping my mother with farm work and took shade under a mango tree to take breakfast. After that I could not hear any voice, my mother kept shouting my name severally but I couldn’t look or answer her till she noticed something was not okay,” he said
His mother enrolled him in Kambui School for the Deaf school where he underwent the Kenya Sign Language curriculum since he had forgotten everything that he had learned before his condition.
With his experience in building and construction, he became a casual laborer at construction different sites.
Later, while looking for a job, he met his employer Jackson Muriuki, who was ready to give him a job. Jackson later employed him as his assistant stating that Simon is one of the best employees that he has ever had.
With the help of his employer, he was able to learn different languages, and even though he cannot speak, they communicate through writing.
Simon says that he could probably regain his hearing through a surgical procedure, but he is against it.
He encouraged persons with disabilities to be resilient and to chase their dreams without feeling intimidated about their condition.
BY STACY ODHIAMBO