Stanley Kamau is always very comfortable whenever acquaintances describe him as “Dr Jigger”. Or the less formal Mr Jigger moniker.
“I don’t mind at all because the names are associated with what I do and love doing,” the founder of Ahadi Trust says, good-naturedly.
He understands the pain, and embarrassments, that jiggers are all about.
In his childhood, he was infested with the fleas so seriously that he nearly dropped out of school from the stigma that come with them.
Contrary to popular opinion, Kamau’s main task is not to visit every hamlet physically pulling jiggers from every feet of the victims.
“I have placed more effort in ensuring that the rate of infestation goes down significantly,” he explains. “my objective is not to remove jiggers but to raise awareness and empower people with the necessary information so that there are not more infections.”
He describes the jigger menace as a serious national problem. His own estimate indicates that up to 10 million Kenyans are at the risk of infestation.
“These figures are assumptions because there are many people out there who hardly come out to report.”
In overall terms, Kamau says that even though the task ahead is difficult progress has been made, with at least 65 per cent success story.
Through his efforts, he has exposed the myths around jiggers forcing the government to engage.
The consequence has been the National Policy Guidelines on Prevention and Control of Jigger Infestations.
Similarly the government has had to declare the third of March every year as the National Jigger Awareness Day.
“These successes are a direct product of our efforts as Ahadi trust,” explains the author of a book, A Jiggered Mind.
The book details the tribulations he has undergone and the wars he has waged in his campaign to rid the country of the jigger menace.
“We are trying to find jiggers but there are are some leaders with jiggers in their heads who have made our work very difficult,” he says of the book.
He says his campaign was opposed by many people who questioned his motive, fearing it was a stepping stone to a higher political office.
“The situation has cooled a bit because the leaders have understood our motive. They are at peace because they know we are not in competition.”
Is he considering a career in politics? “An emphatic no,” he says.
“Jiggers are enough politics. The challenges of the fleas is bigger than the day to day politics. There is much more serious mobilisation around the jigger than in real politics.”
IN FIVE MINUTES
1969: Born in Muranga
1975-1981: Karunge Primary School
1982-1985: Ihego Secondary school 'O' level
1986-1987: Njumbi High School 'A' level
1991: Marathwada University, India. Graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and Auditing option.
1996: Started his Property and Real Estate company which he runs to this day.
2007: Formed the Ahadi Trust with a mission to combat the jigger infestation in rural Kenya.
AWARDS
Talent Ambassador for East and Central Africa - ICIE 2014
Honorary Rotarian, Kikuyu Rotary Club 2014.
London Olympics touch bearers 2012
Marketing Society warrior award 2011
International African achievers awards 2011
Ambassador for peace award 2011
Head of State Commendation (HSC) award 2009
Pure and Nature Award, BIDCO 2009
Doctor of Philosophy, Universal University 2009
Humanitarian of the year award 2009, Laico regency 2009
Global leadership and management award, USAID 2009
Woswa Young achievers, 2009
QUOTES
“When I got to class 3, I was very heavily infested with jiggers. I almost dropped out of primary school because of the effects, I could not stand the way my classmates were laughing at me, the way they used to harass me, they would step on me, and I didn’t have shoes, there was a lot of stigma…” he said in interview with CNN.
2012: “We don't give because we have excess. We give because we have access.”
2013: “Many will say that they are behind you but when you turn back you only see our own shadow”.
“I was very shocked to hear that some people could not come for the Christmas party because they couldn’t walk, as their feet were deformed by jiggers. I was shocked that some kids have never gone to school, and I decided that I must be the voice of those people who are jigger-infested,” he says.