By Allan Olingo

When I headed to The Compassionate Hand of the Disabled in Ruai, I got lost. Out of frustration, I called Anne Njeri Wachira, my host, and informed her that she should pick me up. Fifteen minutes later, she showed up.

As soon as I saw her, I regretted my impatience, for Njeri walked slowly due to disability, but she just smiled and told me not to worry.

That kind smile that emanates from a compassionate heart is what defines Njeri, 28.

It is infectious. You feel the joy when you meet the 31 disabled children at the centre.

Little Tony jumps at me screaming when we walk in, while Samuel rolls on the ground and pulls me to the blackboard, showing off his command of the alphabet.

“That is the way they show their excitement,” Njeri explains, as Tony and other children, many of them under age ten, mill around me.

They are lively and want to  share the knowledge in the best way they know how.

Njeri established the centre in 2008 to assist children with mental and physical disabilities.

“Most of these children come from poor backgrounds and they are neglected. I wanted to offer them a home and family where they would grow up.”

She felt the urge to give back to the community especially after a well-wisher helped her through her disability.

Crawled for many years

“I was born in Korogocho to a single mother and could not walk. I crawled for many years. My mother could not afford my medicare or education, so I spent a lot of time at home.”

Then came along Catherine Wagnar, who saw Njeri at the same spot for a long time. She enquired about her wellbeing. When she learnt that Njeri was disabled and couldn’t go to school, she decided to do something immediately.

“She put me in school and paid for my therapy sessions. That is how I walked again. When I turned 21, I wrote to Catherine thanking her for her support and promising her that I would also return her kindness by helping the disabled children in the slums.”

To be where she is, Njeri underwent several operations alongside the therapy.

And when Njeri went to school at eight years, she was so happy that finally she could do some things on her own.

In 2001, Njeri was a radio presenter with Koch FM in Korogocho slums. It was here that she heard the challenges the disabled were facing in the slums.

“I got a strong resolve to help these children. I had promised Catherine that when I grow up, I would help those like me and this was the chance,” says Njeri.

She now leads the centre that has four volunteers.

“I owe it to them (the volunteers) for making the lives of these children a paradise.”

The current home is leased from the Nairobi Lighthouse Church and the lease expires next month.

“I honestly don’t know what will happen, but with my trust in God, I am sure we will pull through,” says Njeri.

She has started a 1,000 Golden Hearts campaign where she is targeting 1,000 people to each donate Sh1,000 to buy a piece of land and guarantee the children a permanent abode.

Friends, family and well-wishers have been supporting the centre. Njeri’s mother – her biggest pillar, gets the children vegetables and food. Her dream is that these children have a chance in life like she did.