KCPE candidate who learnt sign language to help deaf cook inspires school fraternity

Andrew Ndiuini Nyawira converses with Samuel Wachira during the interview at Baraka Kirori Academy in Nyeri Town. (Jacinta Mutura, Standard)

When Andrew Ndiuini joined Baraka Kirori Academy in Nyeri town, he had no idea that he would learn more than he had bargained for - sign language. Yet fate had it that Ndiuini would take role of interpreter whenever Samuel Wachira, the school cook, needed to communicate something to pupils during meal times.

Wachira was born deaf and he learnt to accept that people may not always understand his hearing disability. But things got more complicated when he landed a job at a school; somehow, he had to efficiently communicate with tens of pupils.

Thirteen-year-old Ndiuini said his interest to learn sign language was birthed when Wachira, who has worked in the school since 2017 asked him to close a tap in the kitchen.

“He looked at me, pointed at the tap and signaled me to close it. My journey to learning sign language had just begun. I reasoned that Wachira needed someone who could understand him and I decided to fill the gap,” he said.

Since January this year, the teenager has taken up interest to learn signs, by having frequent conversations with the cook during break time.

“I have mastered his body language and hand signs. At meal times, I easily pass his messages to the pupils and vice versa. Some pupils hitherto struggled to understand him but not anymore,” he said.

During this interview, Wachira keenly followed Ndiuini’s hand signs as he translated questions, his face beaming; a brief introduction elicited a thumps-up from Wachira.

“It feels good to have someone who can understand me and relay my messages to others. I can now communicate with pupils,” said Wachira.

The school headteacher Stephen Muthoga described Ndiuini, the school captain as an obedient and self-disciplined pupil, who commands respect from teachers and schoolmates.

The boy’s noble actions have made the school administration consider hiring a sign interpreter.

Muthoga said the boy’s curiosity to learn sign language has inspired other pupils to develop an interest in it.

“Ndiuini has set a good example, to others, him reaching out to help the cook in translations is commendable for a sixteen-year-old,” said the principal, adding that a unit in sign language should be embedded in the school curriculum.

The Class Eight pupil is among the 16 candidates from the school who sat the just-ended KCPE examination. Going forward, Ndiuini intends to advance his skills in sign language. 

As he leaves primary school, Ndiuini takes away virtues he learnt from the deaf cook: “Wachira became a friend, and I will leave to remember him. He told me never to be in a hurry in whatever I pursue, said Ndiuini.”