By Abdullahi Jamaa
It was a day full of emotions as the curtains fell on the final day of the “Don’t Hide Me” campaign, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the struggles faced by children with special needs in Wajir County.
After three days, the campaign culminated in a public baraza where speaker after speaker stirred deep emotions by recounting the suffering endured by children with special needs and people living with disabilities.
The heartbreaking condition of many young, innocent children shocked the overwhelming majority in attendance, many witnessing for the first time the daily challenges faced by unsupported children whose needs are often invisible to the wider community.
To inspire hope and resilience among parents and caregivers of children with disabilities, campaigners used the occasion to emphasise the importance of changing attitudes and perceptions towards the disabled community.
One story that deeply moved the audience was that of Najma Osman, a mother of an 18-year-old boy living with T21 Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal anomaly in humans.
As she shared her experience of raising a child with special needs, her words touched both the minds and hearts of the audience.
Addressing parents, guardians, teachers, and leaders, she highlighted how children with special needs are often misunderstood, particularly in the Northeastern region where stigma remains prevalent.
“Our children are not suffering from any illness; they only have special needs,” Najma said, speaking in a soft yet persuasive Somali dialect that captured the attention of fellow mothers. “They need care and education.”
Najma, who is also one of the brains behind the campaign, gave a chilling account of her initial struggle to understand her son’s condition.
“In the beginning it was difficult. People, including doctors, discouraged me about my son’s development.”
Despite the discouragement, her strong conviction drove her forward as she navigated the complex journey of raising a child who requires special care.
Over the years, she made remarkable progress in managing her son’s condition, driven by a steadfast hope that one day he would receive an education. With unwavering love and determination, she carved out an inspiring path to support his growth and development.
“With Allah, it is possible, I told myself. Alhamdulillah, my son is now praying and fasting.”
Her powerful message was clear that there is no time to waste to restore dignity to the thousands of children suffering in silence, abandoned and neglected because of their condition.
Deplorable conditions
Many children are left behind in remote areas. The few who manage to secure spots in the limited number of special schools in town often live in deplorable conditions.
With only eleven special schools in Wajir County, facilities remain grossly inadequate to meet the growing needs of children with disabilities.
Those enrolled in these schools attend lessons in poorly equipped classrooms and face hardships in securing basic necessities like food and bedding.
The “Don’t Hide Me” campaign is an initiative led by well-wishers determined to change the lives of children living with disabilities by improving access to education and care.
“This school is not about education; it is about liberation from stigma,” said Mr. Bishar Billow, head of the Catholic Special School. “This is more than an institution.”
The campaign is spearheaded by Chairman Mr. Mohamednoor Dayow and his dedicated team, who are working tirelessly to address the gaps in service provision for children and adults living with disabilities.
“Children with developmental disability face significant challenges that include stigma,” said Mr. Dayow. “Out of the desire, pain and passion of parents, ‘Don’t Hide Me’ is a campaign to address systematic marginalisation.”
Led by Safe Surgical Aid, the campaign brought together a coalition of partners and well-wishers including the Office of Wajir East Member of Parliament Hon. Aden Daud, the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), Kenya Red Cross, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), the County Government of Wajir, the Civil Registration Department, Social Health Authority (SHA), Imall, and Ifly.
The campaign targeted children with developmental disabilities, offering services such as medical and developmental assessments, physiotherapy sessions, hearing tests, and registration with the NCPWD. Additionally, birth certificate processing and SHA registration were conducted on-site to ease access to essential government services.
Medical doctors and healthcare professionals were deployed to ensure high-quality care throughout the campaign, which drew hundreds of people with disabilities from as far as Lagboghol.
Over the course of three days, 654 children received medical, therapeutic, and psychosocial support. Additionally, 142 children were issued birth certificates, 182 were registered with the NCPWD, and over 150 underwent special needs assessments, therapy, and educational placement by KISE professionals. Meanwhile, 700 caregivers received food and dignity packages.
Rallying call
On the final day, leaders and campaigners issued a rallying call to end widespread stigma and marginalisation of people with disabilities in Northeastern region.
Wagberi MCA Adan Bulle urged the local community to speak out and stop hiding vulnerable children, calling for an end to stigma and discrimination. He cautioned the public against perpetuating harmful attitudes.
“We have so many of these children. We urge parents not to hide children living with disabilities,” said the MCA.
KISE, which deployed staff to support the campaign, noted that some disabilities can be managed or corrected with timely medical intervention.
“We’ve seen parents travel long distances, carrying children on their backs children with simple deformities that could be corrected through medical treatment. I urge the county government to take up the responsibility of addressing such minor cases,” said Mr Daniel Sanoe, KISE Deputy Director in charge of training.
KISE is planning to establish a regional assessment centre in Garissa to cater to the growing number of children with special needs who often cannot travel to Nairobi for evaluation.
To support vulnerable members of the community, including persons with disabilities, the Wajir County Government pledged to provide insurance coverage.
“The County Government of Wajir, in collaboration with the Social Health Authority (SHA), will fully cover SHA medical scheme contributions for persons living with disabilities” pledged Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi.
The county government also committed to establishing physiotherapy units in sub-county hospitals to provide essential rehabilitative care.
“To enhance support for our community, free physiotherapy services will now be provided for persons living with disabilities at our Level 5 hospital, promoting their well-being and inclusion” Governor Abdullahi added.
Wajir East MP Aden Daud announced a KSh 20 million fund to improve facilities at special schools in town as part of broader efforts to enhance services for children with disabilities.
“These funds are meant to improve the situation in some of the special schools in town. We will try our best to improve the condition of the schools,” the MP said.
The MP’s office, one of the main sponsors of the event, lauded the initiative as a vital intervention aimed at ensuring service delivery to an important yet neglected section of the community.
“This campaign was anchored not only in service delivery but in a deeper commitment to dignity, visibility, and belonging. It offered hope to families who have too often been left to walk alone” said MP Aden Daud
Garissa Town MP Dekow Mohamed, who serves as the campaign’s patron, called on both the community and fellow leaders to rally behind the cause.
“We need to support this campaign. We want commitment from leaders to support this initiative,” the MP said.
As the sun set on the final day of the “Don’t Hide Me” campaign, one message rang clear across Wajir: children with special needs deserve dignity and opportunity.
The campaign’s goal goes beyond awareness; it seeks to trigger a paradigm shift in policy and approach towards children with disabilities.
“Apart from creating awareness, the objective is also to have a policy shift. Embrace this movement and move with us,” Dayow, the Chairman, told the audience
