Battling chronic renal failure at 13

Derrick Mwenda, 13, who suffers from chronic renal failure rests after undergoing dialysis at Embu Children Hospital-Tenri. INSET: Mwenda at the hospital. He needs Sh2 million for a kidney transplant. [Photos: JOSEPH MUCHIRI/STANDARD]

Chronic renal failure rarely affects people under the age of 30. But this is not the case for Derrick Mwenda who started battling the disease at 11.

The Standard Five pupil at Kiriari Primary School was diagnosed with the condition in 2014 and requires an urgent kidney transplant. Now 13, Derrick’s both kidneys have failed and he has to undergo dialysis twice a week - Wednesdays and Saturdays.