Ridicule that bred promise

By Nicholas Asego

Looking at the man swirling comfortably in his chair behind the expensive desk sipping black coffee, one cannot imagine the harsh journey he has made so far.

When he strides in his fine leather shoes and striped suit, the assumption is that all is well. He exudes affluence and style as well as confidence to match. But in the shining shoes Stanley’s Kamau’s feet bear evidence of toes that were once ravaged by jiggers, a relic that 41 years have not eradicated.

But more than the physical scars are emotional scars that have turned him into a renowned anti-jigger crusader.

"In a location that had 14 schools, the number of children affected was quite high," he recalls.

Together with some of his friends, he decided to do something. "At first, many laughed when I asked them to join hands we fight jiggers," he recalls.

They thought that jiggers were just a simple matter of hygiene and asked him to think of serious issues. But some agreed and contributed money for buying antiseptics and setting up medical camps.

"Usijali hiyo ni ahadi. Tuta angamiza hizo funza (Don’t worry it’s a promise we will eradicate jiggers)," one of them told Kamau. And that was how the name of the organisation Ahadi Kenya Trust came about in February 2007.

To help create awareness he organised a conference at Nairobi’s Mamba Village and invited celebrities.

"I thought if musicians, artistes and radio personalities got involved it would give it a major boost."

Though many promised to join, he notes that Cecilia Mwangi and the late musician Paul Imbaya (King Kong) were the most enthusiastic.

This was followed by a media launch on March 31, 2007, which newspapers reported on April 1, a day known for fool’s day pranks.

"Many thought that it was all part of an April fool’s day prank," he laughs.

But consistent media coverage brought the issue to light and they soon got calls from Thika, Gatundu, Kiambu and the greater part of Central Province where the problem is rampant.

"Within a year we had visited all districts in Central and gone as far as Kericho," he says.

Since then, they have also attended over 300 burials from complications arising from jigger infestations in Central, Nyanza and Western provinces.

"There are over 500,000 people disabled, children have dropped out of school while other have developed mental problems all related to jiggers."

He realised the problem is even beyond the borders if the feelers send to Ahadi Trust are to be believed.

"We have moved to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and we have even been invited to Nigeria and South Africa," he says. Later this month he will be travelling to Tanzania on the same mission.

Locally, many people including politicians who were reluctant at first saying talking about jiggers was an embarrassment have joined the bandwagon.

A reason to smile

Currently, over 50 corporations have joined the campaign and sponsor the camps, while the Ministry of Public Health helps with fumigation.

At last Kamau has a reason to smile.

"I’m glad that everyone now is aware of the threat of jiggers to communities. The victims can also go to hospitals for treatment without any sense of shame," he says.

As I prepare to sum up our chat, I ask Kamau if he’s married or in a serious relationship. "I have found my love in God and my service to the community," he says with seriousness. But he is not ruling out anything.

For now, his effort is in fighting the menace and make families happy as a result.

And his efforts have been recognised. In 2009 the Trust won the third annual Leadership and Management Award, supported by the US Agency for International Development. The Kenyan team beat 13 other teams from around the world.

Last year, Ahadi also received a Humanitarian award from Laico Regency and a Head of State Commendation from the President in December.

The battle against jiggers is one that Kamau is not keen to lose. And he is unlikely to.