The daily burden of unsafe water
In Kilifi County, Kenya, transformation often begins quietly — in homes, churches and small businesses where perseverance meets opportunity. For individuals living with disabilities, daily life can be shaped by stigma, isolation and limited access to education or employment. Yet through Cross International’s locally led work, families are discovering new pathways marked by dignity, inclusion and hope.
Kahunda is one of them.
Growing up with a hearing impairment, Kahunda faced barriers that went far beyond poverty. In her community, disability was often misunderstood — sometimes linked to curses or shame. Expectations were low. Opportunities were scarce. Without resources or advocacy, many people with disabilities are excluded from school and economic life altogether.
Kahunda’s circumstances reflected that reality. She lived with her
elderly mother and two young daughters, relying on subsistence farming
that depended heavily on unreliable rainfall. Food shortages were
common. School felt uncertain. A stable future seemed out of reach.
Still, she pressed forward.
Over time, Kahunda became part of a Christ-centered community served through Cross International. Step by step, barriers began to fall. She continued her education through secondary school, gained access to vocational training with sign language interpretation and learned practical business skills that could translate into long-term stability. Along the way, mentors walked beside her — advocating for inclusion, challenging harmful assumptions and reminding her that her life carried value and purpose.
That foundation mattered.
Today, Kahunda runs her own small salon — a steady source of income that allows her to provide for her family, keep her daughters in school and manage healthcare needs with greater
confidence. In a place where disability once defined how others saw her, she is now known for her skill, professionalism and determination.
“I can now comfortably feed, clothe and educate my children,” Kahunda shares. “Mulungu na uwe — God through you.”
Her faith remains central to her life. Though access to inclusive worship is still limited in her area, prayer sustains her — for her children, her mother and the business she continues to grow. Inspired by the biblical story of Dorcas, who used her skills to serve others, Kahunda dreams of expanding her salon and one day employing another young woman, ideally someone living with a disability.
Her journey is a reminder that meaningful change is rarely instant. It unfolds through persistence, community and faith lived out in practical ways. When dignity is restored and opportunity is made accessible, lives begin to reflect God’s redemptive work — not only for one person, but for generations.
Kahunda’s story is still unfolding.
But already, it is reshaping how her community sees disability — and what hope can look like in Kilifi County.
