A boy from Tairi Mbili in Mautuma Ward, Lugari Sub-county, has shared his plight about how his father abandoned him after threatening to kill him because he is physically challenged and how he now needs assistance to purchase, among other things, a wheelchair.
The needy boy, named Dancan Panyako, 15, is living with his grandmother and he narrated how his biological father, John Wanjala, threw him out of their home in Kakamega because he was suffering from a disability affecting his legs.
Dancan’s grandmother, Beatrice Ayuma, said the boy was neglected by his father in 2017 and now does not attend school.
“I am now her mother and father. There’s no support from his father’s side. Panyako wants to go to school, but he has no wheelchair. I sell mutura so that he gets something to eat,” she said.
Ms. Ayuma added that the boy dropped out of Mukuyu Special School due to the COVID-19 pandemic that scuttled plans to ensure he continued learning.
She further revealed that her mother, Lilian Imanya, is not able to raise him because she doesn’t have employment and she parted ways with her husband and they live separately.
In a call, Ms. Imanya confirmed that she separated from her husband and now leads her own life alone.
“I do casual work to earn a living so that I can send Sh100-200 to Panyako to help with a few needs. I separated from his dad because we disagreed after he wanted to kill the child because of his disability, saying he was cursed,” she added.
Mama Ayuma is now calling upon people of goodwill to intervene and help provide for the poor boy, buy him a wheelchair and take him to school.
“When there is no food,his eyes turn red and he becomes weak, yet he cannot move a single step. I’m appealing to anyone out there, please, any local leader or any wellwisher who can help, I will appreciate it,” she requested.
Attempts to reach out to Panyako’s father, John Wanjala, for a response were futile for he could not pick up calls.
Tom Lutali is a seasoned scribe based in Lugari Sub-County in Kakamega County who writes human interest stories and sports for WKT.
Let the mother follow the procedure of plwd starting from sub location to national and I know she will get assistance