Background Info

Jamari Kipchumba was born on 14th November 2016. Jamari is a child with special needs; he is deaf and mute. He is the first child of Valentine Chemutai and Simon Kirui.

Jamari’s parents (Valentine and Simon) met in 2013; they were both secondary school students. They started a romantic relationship and promised to marry each other. Valentine and Simon come from very poor families. After their final high school exams, Valentine and Simon could not join college for lack of funds. They continued dating while looking for casual jobs. A year after high school, Valentine realized that she was pregnant. Jamari’s parents did not know what to do since they were both hosted by their respective relatives. Jamari’s father (Simon) had no job but was interested in being a father. He requested his relative to allow him to have a small room in the compound. The uncle agreed to host both Simon and his pregnant ‘wife’. The house is so small single room that can only one bed and one chair can fit in.

Valentine gave birth to Jamari shortly after moving in. Jamari’s father was a casual labourer around Nakuru town. His earnings were very little but he worked hard to provide for Valentine and the child. After some time, they realized that Jamari had a hearing problem. He could not respond to sound. Deafness goes hand in hand with muteness. Simon and Valentine had to work harder to care for their special child. Valentine took up casual jobs to help Simon take care of the family. She hawked fruits in the small centres in Nakuru. All these jobs were paying too low for the couple to get the basic needs or save.

When Jamari was five years and ready to start his education, the parents had no money. They could not afford the high-priced special education in Kenya. They enrolled Jamari in a nearby ordinary primary school. This school had no special education trained teacher to teach the deaf Jamari. Jamari could not progress to the next class as he had not learned a thing. He does not know any sign language and could not communicate. Jamari’s case was referred to us by the head teacher at his school.

We assessed Jamari in October 2022. He was enrolled in Ngala school for the deaf where he is currently getting the basic education.

Jamari needs a sponsor.