Joyland Special School, Deputy Headteacher Sam Odhiambo.
His journey started at the young age of four when a poliovirus attack left him with physical impairments in his upper and lower limbs.
For a child, this meant being unable to run, play, or navigate the world like his peers. It took him three years to find a spot in a special school, a moment that would shape the course of his life.
In the center of Kisumu at Joyland Special School, Deputy Headteacher Sam Odhiambo embodies a story not just of overcoming adversity but turning it into a beacon of hope for others. Odhiambo's early years showed resilience. By age seven, he was still crawling, but the special school offered a lifeline: rehabilitation services.
He describes his progress as a slow but steady march of success, from crawling to sitting in a wheelchair, then using crutches and calipers. Over time, he advanced to using a single caliper and a short stick, which symbolised his hard-won independence. He occasionally still uses a wheelchair for long distances as a practical acknowledgement of his body's limits, but it does not define his spirit. His academic journey ran parallel to his physical rehabilitation, as he attended special schools for both primary and secondary education.
This path eventually led him to become a teacher himself. He further specialised in special education at the diploma, degree, and master's levels, and is currently pursuing a PhD at Maseno University. For Odhiambo, this academic pursuit was more than a career path; it was a quest for self-understanding. This has helped me understand learners, myself, my abilities, and my surroundings, he reflects. Overcoming Challenges: Internal and External Struggles While his early years were protected from the full burden of his condition, adolescence brought new challenges. In secondary school, the harsh reality of being different became clear.
He faced what he describes as internal conflicts, the struggle to accept himself in a world not designed for him. These were worsened by external challenges such as inaccessible school structures and the often-unspoken attitudes of his peers and the community.
Academically, the path was just as demanding. Odhiambo had to work twice as hard to keep up with his peers. He says that structures in post-secondary institutions were not accessible, which forced him to find ways to navigate buildings that were not designed for someone using crutches or a wheelchair. "One also has to contend with time-consuming medical procedures like surgeries and rehabilitation, which often means missing classes.
This constant juggling act can hinder one from achieving their full academic potential," he notes. But Odhiambo's message to others living with polio-related disabilities is one of unwavering positivity: "live a positive life like I have lived, come to terms with your conditions and achieve your dreams."
He also urges the community to be more supportive and empathetic, explaining how an unaccommodating environment, such as a building without ramps, can worsen a person's disability. "If the environment is not conducive for persons with disabilities, then we intensify the disability," he says, underscoring the vital role society plays in inclusion.
A School of Hope: Joyland Special School Today, as Deputy Headteacher at Joyland Special School, Odhiambo is at the forefront of transforming lives. The school serves a diverse group of students with physical and developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and autism.
He mentions that the challenges are numerous, ranging from the complexities of providing education and rehabilitation to addressing external issues such as parental support and government funding.
He believes that a lack of sufficient funding is the primary cause of many problems. It impacts everything from purchasing expensive, specialised equipment to hiring essential staff, such as physiotherapists. The school, for example, has a dual-track curriculum.
Alongside the standard curriculum, which is based on age, there is a specialised pathway organised around stages for students who cannot benefit from the regular curriculum.
This program, emphasising vocational skills and life milestones rather than age, helps students become self-reliant. However, it requires specific materials and equipment that are not always available. "For children with physical disabilities, for example, acquiring fine motor skills for writing requires specialised training and tools that are often out of reach," he notes.
The fight against polio and the support for its survivors has a powerful ally in Rotary District 9212. Rose Waringa, the Rotary Coordinator for the Western Kenya Region, says the volunteer organisation is actively tracing and supporting children with polio-related disabilities.
After visiting a special school, Rotary and Rotaract club volunteers discovered the impact of mobilising to get wheelchairs and other assistive devices for persons with disabilities, including those resulting from polio complications.
Waringa has called for a comprehensive mapping effort to identify people in need of mobility aids, which she says has led to the 'one needy child, one wheelchair' program. Waringa notes that with all-year-round fundraising, October serves as a time to recognize progress in the fight to end polio and collaboratively plan the actions needed to eradicate polio for good. She also emphasizes the importance of community awareness, urging parents to bring their children for assessments, as some can be rehabilitated to walk again.
"We have created a lasting health legacy by committing to protect millions of children worldwide, and we will keep going until polio becomes a thing of the past," Waringa added. A Global Promise: Rotary's Unfinished Business The commitment of Rotary District 9212, which includes Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and South Sudan, reflects a global effort by volunteers rallying support in the fight against polio, under the theme "One Day, One Focus, Ending Polio," Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was launched in 1988, polio cases have been reduced by over 99.9%.
The African Region was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020, marking a monumental victory. "Complacency is the enemy. Wild Poliovirus remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks still occur in areas with low immunization coverage. Until polio is eradicated everywhere, children everywhere remain at risk," warns District 9212 Governor Wairimu Njage.
Rotary has been a leader in this fight, donating over $2.1 billion to the global effort. This polio infrastructure, surveillance, logistics, and health systems have also enhanced Africa's ability to respond to other health crises like Ebola and COVID-19. As Odhiambo's story demonstrates, the fight is far from over.
It is a dual battle to eradicate the disease and ensure those affected can live with dignity, purpose, and achievement—a promise Rotary remains dedicated to. Ends…/…
