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28 years in bed: Naomi's relentless fight for dignity

Naomi Wali Kalema who is battling arthritis, during the interview with The Standard in Nairobi, on July 22, 2025. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] 

In a modest bed in a small, dimly lit room tucked deep within the bustle of Ngara’s old residential blocks in Nairobi, lies 48-year-old Naomi Kalema. She has been confined to this bed for the past four years, ever since she arrived in Nairobi. 

At first glance, Naomi’s captivating smile gives the false impression of a vibrant, bubbly woman, someone ready to spring out of bed, welcome us into her humble abode and eagerly share her story. 

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