‘In my Genes’ star succumbs to skin cancer at KNH

By Ally Jamah

Agnes Manzi Muthakye, who starred in an award winning film, In My Genes, succumbed to skin cancer on Monday at 10pm at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

The film was produced by Lupita Nyong’o, the daughter of Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o, and was the first ever to highlight the plight of people with albinism.

In My Genes was launched in Nairobi on May 28, 2009, by Mrs Ida Odinga, wife of Prime Minister

Lupita Nyong’o with Agnes Muthakye, who starred in an award winning film she produced, In My Genes. The movie highlights the plight of people living with albinism. [PHOTO: COURTESY/STANDARD]

Raila Odinga and brought to the fore the plight of people with albinism, long before the infamous Tanzanian killings of people living with the condition.

Agnes, 52, from Musosia village in Mwingi District was totally blind but remained the breadwinner of her family of seven children and husband, John Kabiru Kariuki. She met her husband, a widower, in 1987.

Though blind, she overcame severe odds and earned a living by meticulously weaving baskets and knitting sweaters.

Agnes was born on February 25, 1960. She went to school and completed Form Four, which she attributed to the fact that she was born with albinism. She considered herself fortunate in this regard since her sisters dropped out of school and were married off early.

In 1984, she lost her first eye and believed it was damaged due to a beating she had received from her father.

Between 1994 and 1996, she underwent radiotherapy treatment, which she had to discontinue due to lack of funds.

In 2003, her second eye was affected and had to be removed. Initially traumatised by the news, she quickly adjusted to her new situation when the wife of a 1998 Nairobi bomb blast victim, who was also blind, encouraged her.

Courage and dignity

Agnes knew that she had cancer in 2007, when Lupita introduced her to Dr Fatma Abdallah, an oncologist at Kenyatta National Hospital.

She was admitted last Saturday in serious condition. She bore the excruciating pain with unimaginable courage and dignity.

Messages of condolences have been pouring from the albinism fraternity and friends since her sad demise at 10pm on Monday.

"Ever since Lupita introduced her to the family we have always felt her warmth and strong personality under difficult health challenges." said Nyong’o."