By PETER ATSIAYA
Memories of the armed war that left Pauline Naboe and Maker Gatlwak with disabilities were fresh in their minds as they voted at Kakuma Refugee Camp.
They both stepped on landmines in the war-torn southern Sudan, an incident that led to their legs being amputated.
But as they voted at Rajav polling centre, Naboe, 26, and Gatlwak, 23, remained hopeful the future would be bright.
They were among hundreds of disabled Sudanese nationals living in Kenya and whose did not allow their circumstances to deter them from taking part in the historic separation vote.
Pauline Naboe waits to vote, Monday. [PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG/STANDARD] READ MOREUN closing bases in S.Sudan despite tense security concerns Outages in Sudan after major drone attack hits power plant Africa cannot achieve peace without women S.Sudan announces deal with Sudan warring sides to secure key oil field |
Naboe was driven to the polling center on a wheelchair donated to her by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
With the help of the referendum officials, her wheelchair was pushed into the voting centre, taken through the process before she proudly dropped her ballot into the transparent box.
Beaming with joy, Naboe could not hide her pride as she spoke to journalists. "I voted for separation...it is not a secret because I am among those who are dying to have our own country and government," she said.
Not alone
She went on: "I am not alone in this state. We have a big number of refugees living with disabilities occasioned by the war that impoverished and made us a laughing stock".
"We want change. We demand for separation, we are not requesting because the vote is the judge that will decide," she added.
Naboe recalled the fateful day when she stepped on a landmine at Kapoeta in South Sudan as they escaped an attack with relatives. Events of the fateful day changed her life.
She says her leg was amputated at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, and was confined to a wheelchair. Gatlwak stepped on a landmine at Torit area losing his right leg.
The two could not proceed with education due to their condition.
They believe that if South Sudan secures independence, things would never be the same again for citizens.
They argue that people living with disabilities would be taken care of and even compensated.
