Abandoned, abused, and neglected children have become all too common in rural Kenya.  The recent drought has made people reliant on farming and cattle raising more desperate and unpredictable.  Pent up frustration and anger often gets taken out on defenseless children, especially those with disabilities or deformities.  In fact, children born with deformities are thought to be cursed and are commonly hidden away and mistreated. 

Witness Kevin, a 5 yr. old boy born with hand and foot deformities.  Kevin's mother abandoned him for a life of prostitution.  

Since women are the child raisers in Kenya, the responsibility fell on his alcoholic grandmother.  She assumed the duty of caring for Kevin and his 2 1/2 yr. old sister.  The children moved into her one room hut in a village near Nyahururu, Kenya.  Neighbors say the grandmother left the children alone from morning to late at night, while she went drinking.  No food was provided  and they were usually left locked 

out of the house.  

Kevin not only faced neglect and hunger, but also endured regular beatings at the hands of his grandmother.  She would tie his hands and beat him, witnesses say.  This abuse reached a low point in January 2010 when Kevin went 2 days with no food and went to a neighbor's house, where he was fed.  Somehow this enraged his grandmother and when she arrived home she punished him by putting his hands in the fire.  Per Kevin's account she wanted to burn his head, but he offered his hands instead.  

Kevin was found huddled in some bushes crying a few days later by a passerby.  After seeing his burned hands and hearing his story, this good samaritan notified authorities and took the boy to a nearby hospital for treatment of second and third degree burns.  Shortly after, Rev. Peter Amandui,who grew up in Nyahururu, returned to the area for his uncle's funeral.  Amandui was told of the boy's situation by the villagers and went to visit Kevin.  He was heartbroken by what he saw and took immediate action to remove the boy  and bring him back to his current home in Kijabe.  Not surprisingly, the family was willing to give Kevin away.  Child protective services are not available in Kenya, so with little fanfare the matter was quickly handled.  The grandmother was sentenced to 8 yrs. in jail, but immediately set free on probation because the court felt she needed to go home to take care of the 2 1/2 yr. old girl.  Apparently the court was motivated by "compassion" for the little girl's needs in deciding to free her, judging this as more important than her abusive record with Kevin.  

Kevin now lives with the Amandui family on Kijabe mission station.  He has been given treatment for intestinal worms and malnutrition.  His burned hands are healing and should function well eventually.  He faces surgical treatment of his deformed hand and foot at CURE Hospital in Kijabe in the coming weeks.  In spite of his traumatic past, he remains a pleasant, gentle, loving boy.  Clothing, shoes, toys, high protein food, and vitamins have been given to the Amandui's for Kevin.  Kevin has charmed all who have met him in Kijabe and should not go wanting for love now.  

Some have testified that they see Jesus Christ in Amandui's actions.  This pastor went for a family funeral and instead found a life to

redeem.  Sadly, few Kenyan families can give so sacrificially to rescue a child like Kevin.  What will become of the others?  How can you help?  

As we are sure you’ve heard by now, we are in the process of constructing Naomi’s Village, a children’s home in the Kijabe area.  Naomi’s Village should be operational later this year and will be a place of love and hope for children who need to be rescued, but have no one to take them into a home.  For more info. on Naomi’s Village and how you can help, click on the Naomi’s Village page on this website and/or click on Lost Orphans International. 

CURE Kenya provides surgical treatment, counseling, spiritual guidance, and a new chance at life for children who have disabilities and deformities.  Without CURE many of these children would be tossed away as worthless and cursed. CURE is also leading the way in educating the people of Kenya in an effort to change their culture of disability. For more information about CURE and how you can help click on CURE International. 

By the way, our facebook page contains a lot of the humorous side of our lives in Kenya (rat-killing, giraffe-kissing, goat-leg cooking, etc).  For a glimpse at the lighter side of life in Kijabe, including pictures, you can always “friend” us under Julie Harris Mendonsa.