Hundreds Queue for Disability Assessment In Tharaka Nithi as KISE Rewrites Stories of Hope

By Nadia Muthoni

In Tharaka Nithi, behind every smile is a story of resilience. This September, hundreds of parents and guardians arrived at dawn, some holding their children’s hands tightly, others carrying them on their backs drawn by a common hope,the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) outreach. For many, this visit is more than just a medical or educational check ,it is a lifeline.

Across Mukothima, Tharaka North, Tharaka West, Tharaka South, and Chiakariga, families queued in their hundreds for a chance to receive disability assessments and support services that for many had remained out of reach for years. The six-day outreach was not just about assessments ,it was about restoring dignity and giving families a reason to believe that their children, too, can thrive.

Inside classrooms and mobile clinics, KISE specialists conducted functional assessments, speech and physiotherapy sessions, medical disability checks, psychosocial support, and nutritional guidance. For some families, this was the first time they had access to such services,services that could open doors to education and opportunities that have long been denied.

This mission is part of a larger journey. In recent months, KISE has carried its outreach program to counties including Elgeyo Marakwet, Samburu, Nandi, Turkana, Machakos, West Pokot, and Wajir. In each of these regions, hundreds of parents and guardians have turned up, all united by the belief that these small moments of care could change the course of their children’s lives. Whether in the arid stretches of Turkana or the highlands of Nandi, the stories remain the same,families seeking dignity, inclusion, and hope for their children with disabilities. The success of this outreach in Tharaka Nithi was made possible with the support of the area Member of Parliament, Hon. George Gitonga Murugara, Hsc, who through his office, facilitated the mission to ensure that KISE could bring essential services right to mashinani,where the people are. His commitment underscores the importance of leaders working hand in hand with institutions to ensure inclusion for all.

But KISE’s outreach goes beyond medical and educational interventions. It is also about changing perceptions, raising awareness, and building inclusive communities where children with special needs are not hidden, but celebrated.

Dr. Norman Kiogora, Director of KISE, reaffirmed this commitment:“It is in the small, consistent steps that we pave the way for great impact, transforming the lives of learners with special needs, one community at a time. It is our mission at KISE to reach as many counties as possible.”

What began as a series of county outreaches has grown into something much larger, a nationwide movement. This is more than an event. It is a story of resilience, compassion, and hope. It is about rewriting narratives so that every learner with special needs in Kenya has the chance to be understood, supported, and included.