Meet the blind Murang’a Prison warder

Visually impaired prison warden Esther Nyawira Kamindo (middle) signs forms assisted by Mt Kenya Central ACK Bishop Timothy Gichore (left) and church Attorney at St James All. Marty ACK Church in Murang'a town. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard]

The world went dark four years ago when Esther Nyawira Kamindo lost her eyesight. Nyawira had battled diabetes for a long time before the disease claimed her eyesight in 2014, thrusting her life into an unknown world of darkness. Being a prison warder, Nyawira suffered anxiety with the fear that her employer, The Kenya Prisons Service would sack her. Life lost meaning to her when doctors broke the sad news that she would never be able to see again.

Soon after, a white cane became her companion as it was the only thing she could navigate her way around her quarters to the prison. Nyawira says she contemplated suicide as she could no longer live the life that she had been used to. Performing her duties as a Prison warder was a nightmare.

 Her work included escorting prisoners to the courts and hospitals. She also faced fears of rejection by her relatives and especially her in-laws.

“I did not know how they would handle my new situation and that stressed me up,” she said.

As fate would have it, she lost some close friends who did not want to deal with her blindness and the dependency it brought on them.

But her family stood with her which made the difficult situation better and with the assistance of her employer, she underwent counseling and rehabilitation.

Nyawira had to learn braille and basic survival living skills such as mobility and computer studies. Gradually, she was able to accept her new status and had to complete the course to resume work. She however noted that she still encountered challenges with people who did not understand the will power it took for her to live normally.

 In 2016, she went back to her station and became a counseling officer since she could no longer perform warder duties. Afterward, Nyawira sought permission from her employer to study Theology which she completed in November last year and applied for the position of a deacon in the Anglican church.

 Nyawira was ordained as a deacon on December 27 and pledged to use her position to spread the gospel and to reach out to persons living with disabilities to help them accept their disabilities and work towards bettering themselves. This is the ?rst time in the country for the Anglican church to ordain a visually challenged clergyman.

 The event was thronged by her visually impaired friends as her family and friends celebrated her achievements. During the colourful ordination ceremony held at St James Cathedral ACK Church in Murang’a, 11 deacons were ordained by Bishop Timothy Gichere.

 A fellow deacon held her hand and guided her into the church and sat her next to her husband Laban Gichohi. Gichohi said the journey has been tough but promised to support her through thick and thin until she achieves her dreams.

Peter Kubende, the officer in charge of Murang’a prison said they had never before encountered a situation such as hers. He hailed Nyawira as a hardworking officer who has made the department proud and is a role model for many.

Patrick Kivuchi, Nyawira’s friend who is also visually impaired said she has become a source of hope for many. Kivuchi said they had to turn up in huge numbers to show their support and celebrate with her.

“Nyawira is a ?ghter who never gives up and though it has been extremely hard for the family, she has managed to turn her life around and overcome her difficulties,” her father Bernard Kamindo said on his part.