Post-election fire took her face, not her dreams: Nakhumicha's story still burns today

Roselyn Nakhumicha, 2007 post-election victim. [Photo/Martin Ndiema]

Outside a mud-walled one-bedroom house in Bikeke village, Trans Nzoia County, 17-year-old Roselyn Nakhumicha bends over a plastic chair, her wrist pressed hard on a tattered exam paper.

With no left hand and a face bearing deep scars from a fire she barely survived as an infant during the 2007/2008 post-election violence, she scribbles answers with unwavering concentration.

The effect of the horrific arson attack changed the trajectory of her life before she could even walk. Nakhumicha was just seven months old in early 2008 when post-election violence ignited across parts of Kenya following a disputed presidential result. Nakhumicha is one such survivor.

The scars they bear are a constant reminder of the darkest period of the country's history. A history the unaffected, especially the political class, have erased from their memories. 

However, for Nakhumicha and survivors, the dark history is still fresh in their minds, like it happened yesterday.

On the day of the attack, her mother, Susan Khamala, had just returned from the bush where she hid with her children overnight as killings, robbery and maiming took place in the village.

That eventful day, she briefly left Nakhumicha sleeping in the house and went to fetch water from a nearby river. Upon her return, smoke and flames had already engulfed the modest family home.

"I dropped the bucket and screamed with all my strength. I tried to run into the house, but people held me back. I fainted and I woke up in a hospital bed," painfully recalls Khamala.

Nakhumicha was rescued by neighbours. Her tiny body, however, was badly burnt. She lost her left hand at the wrist, suffered extensive facial burns, and sustained injuries to her ears and eyes.

Doctors at Kijabe Hospital managed to save her hearing and partial vision, the disfigurement of her face was irreversible. Her father, David Khamala, remembers the ordeal vividly.

"We sold everything we had. We did casual jobs, begged on the streets, and went from hospital to hospital just to keep her alive. We have been living hand to mouth ever since," he said.

Now a Form Three student at Friends School Sirende, Nakhumicha dreams of undergoing reconstructive surgery at Kijabe Hospital to restore her facial features.

But the cost of Sh700,000 is far beyond the reach of her peasant family.

She was first scheduled for surgery in October 2019 but repeated fundraising attempts fell short. Mini-harambees organised by the family failed to generate the required amount, and with each passing year, the window for optimal surgery narrows.

“Doctors told me it might be difficult to perform the surgery after I turn 40. I’m just praying that someone out there, anyone, even the president or our governor, might help me. I want to feel like a normal girl,” Nakhumicha says.

She often hides behind a shy smile but speaks with clarity and resolve.

“Some classmates laugh at me. They call me names. They don’t know what I have been through, but I try not to let it break me. I want to become a surgeon one day to help others like me,” she says.

Her journey through the education system has not been easy. She speaks of frequent headaches, dizziness, and bullying. Yet her academic spirit remains unbowed.

Beyond the physical scars, Nakhumicha also bears emotional ones. Though resilient, she admits to bouts of sadness and self-doubt.

“Sometimes, I look at the mirror and wonder if anyone will ever accept me. But then I remind myself I didn’t choose this. And I won’t let it ruin my dreams," she said.

She draws inspiration from stories of others who have overcome adversity. She wants to become a surgeon not just to fix bodies but to restore hope.

“I know what pain is. I know what it means to be helpless. That is why I want to help people.” Nakhumicha said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

As the sun sets behind the green hills of Trans Nzoia, Nakhumicha picks up her books and walks into the modest home. Her mother is cooking over a smoky fire, and the aroma of boiling maize wafts through the air. Inside, there is little to no electricity, no television, just hope and faith.

And yet, in this humble household lives a story of unimaginable pain, resilience, and relentless ambition.

It is a story waiting not just to be told but to be heard.

“I just want to have a normal face. Not for beauty. Just so that when people look at me, they don’t only see the fire. They see me,” Nakhumicha says again, almost as if reassuring herself.

Her father, Khamala, is a boda boda operator. Once a modestly profitable hustle, the work has become less sustainable due to rising competition.

"These days, every other youth owns a bike thanks to loan schemes. I can barely make Sh300 a day, and most of it goes into food and school fees. We can’t raise this surgery money on our own." Khamala said.

Despite the struggles, the family’s spirit remains remarkably resilient. Susan still takes on odd jobs, washing clothes and tilling land to supplement their income.

“My daughter has suffered enough. If only she could get the surgery, maybe then she would live without the shame, the stares, and the questions,” she says.

Nakhumicha’s story is known in the village, and many admire her courage.

“She is a very dedicated girl. Even with all that she’s been through, she’s never missed school unless she's sick. She’s smart, ambitious, and polite. I hope someone comes through for her," said Maureen Kundu, a close neighbour.

The local chief has written recommendation letters in support of the family's fundraising efforts. So far, however, no large benefactor or charity has stepped in.

Organisations working with burn survivors in Kenya, such as the Burn Society of Kenya and Smile Train, typically rely on referrals and specific networks. Unfortunately, families like Nakhumicha’s often fall through the cracks due to a lack of awareness or access.

According to Dr Peter Muriithi, a reconstructive surgeon not directly involved in the case, plastic surgery for burn victims is not just cosmetic; it’s crucial.

“Many burn survivors deal with chronic infections, limited mobility, and psychological trauma. Reconstructive surgery improves function and self-esteem, especially when done early," he explains.

Raphael Eyanai, the Secretary General of the National IDPs Network Kenya, expressed deep concern over the prolonged suffering of children affected by the post-election chaos, especially those who sustained permanent injuries or trauma.