Njeri's Mind Out Wild

How did you end up in Turkana??? I get this question a looot! I guess many ask this because of the preconceived biases based on what they have either watched on telly or heard. It's a simple lack of exposure to the beauty of Turkana. If anything, I encourage questions about Turkana so people can learn. It's either that (free) or you come visit (learn). So.... My name is Esther Mwangi, and yes I am from Turkana. To make it short, my Dad came to Turkana 54 years ago as an Accounting Clerk. Mum followed 11 years later. The two have together made a name for themselves and have become a great part of the community. That means, I was born, bred, educated, and nourished at the heart of Turkana in Lodwar. I did not end up here, this is home. A selfie of me in a full Turkana regalia. Many know Turkana for its climatic condition, and being sorrounded by three countries comes with its challenges, and that may be the other reason we are known for. Hey, we have our challenges but, allo

"Disability is not about people's impairments, instead, it's about barriers across people with different impairments" . Dr. Harun Hassan, Director, National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD- Kenya) 4th Annual Inclusive Africa Conference  hosted by inABLE Did you know that an estimated 15% of the African population (1.4 Billion) is living with a disability? That's almost 220 million people who continue to face social, physical, and online barriers on a daily basis. Yet, many of these disabilities go undiagnosed or untreated, resulting in individuals struggling to understand their differences and navigating a world that isn't always accommodating. An image showing different neurodivergent disabilities was downloaded from  Pinterest . In this disability awareness month series, I'd like to focus on undiagnosed neurodivergent disabilities and embracing newly diagnosed disabilities in adults. Neurodivergent disabilities, such as autism, ADHD, dyscalc

Hello, October is not only my birthday month, it is also a special month dedicated to advocating for disability employment awareness and the need to provide inclusive workspaces and sensitize employees on being patient and accommodating without prejudice and ableism practices. In short, this month is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment that values the skills and talents of individuals with disabilities. I don't think this is a coincidence, I believe I have been called to be a disability inclusion advocate. 15% of the global population has some form of disability, which makes about 220 million Africans with disabilities ( World Bank ). While there has been some progress, we are still far from fulfilling what we are all called to achieve by Goal 10 of the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG ) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which all focus on ensuring equal opportunity and reduced inequalities for all. It is vital to reflect on ways w

As published on June 15, 2023 on Nation Newspaper by myself. https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/pwd-inclusion-should-not-be-mere-rhetoric-4266598

So, I got published on the Nation newspaper talking about why we should be radical about designing inclusive policies for persons with disabilities. Here's the back story. The last four months from February 2023 till early June have been quite a roller coaster of activities for me. I have been the busiest I have ever been planning the 4th Annual Inclusive Africa Conference that happened from May 29 - 31, 2023 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi. Over 900 participants joined virtually, 649 people joined via watch parties in 15 African countries and over 300 people in Nairobi. It was a massive success, and it proves getting better every year.  As you may already know, I am definitely a workaholic, and I don't leave any stones unturned when I'm working on something, and as the Project Manager for The Inclusive Africa Conference, my biggest job was to make sure we had an amazing conference, and so, I dived! I must admit, I lost myself and had a few health hiccups but all is go

Image by Pixabay  Finding love later in life can be a wonderful and fulfilling experience. For some people, they may have gone through a divorce or the end of a long-term relationship, while others may have never been in a serious relationship before. No matter the circumstances, finding love later in life is not just possible, it's beautiful in so many ways– and finding the right person for you is natural. When looking for a partner later in life, it's important to take your time and not rush into anything. You've likely gone through a lot of life experiences by this point, and you know what you want and don't want in a relationship. Use this knowledge to your advantage, and don't settle for someone who doesn't meet your standards or make you happy. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and don't be afraid to be honest about what you're looking for. It's also important to keep an open mind when it comes to dating later in life. It's easy to get