Jumo Won! (by alan)

Jumo Won!

( Photo to come)

As reported on Monday October 29 2007.

In the sports section of the Daily Nation

“ In the wheel chair race, Gabriel Jumo posted a faster time of 1:51:09 in the 42 Km race ahead of Dennis Omondi Muga 1:52:00 and Tom Mboya 1:52:27”

Sunday the Nairobi Marathon was held here in Kenya to give you a perspective the fastest runners do it in about 2 ½ hours.

The below excerpt is from my story Favour December 23 2006

“Jumo is a handicapped man who runs a shoe shine on the streets of Nairobi. I first met

Him back in February when I was here. I was very impressed by his positive attitude; compared to most Kenyans, I had met. He was quite happy, and expressed a desire to go to the USA, to race wheelchairs. He has a tricycle that is propelled by hand cranks, that he calls his wheelchair. When I visited Jumo this trip his wheelchair was notably missing, it was out of service, so he was on crutches. I offered to assist him in repairing it and supplying all the parts. This is how I came to be in Dandora after dark. Jumo lives with his wife and 6 children in Dandora.

Esther, Jumo and I, we traveled to his house to inspect the wheelchair. After making a list of parts the wheelchair required we returned to town to get the parts. I soon learned that the parts for the wheelchair are not easy to obtain. Jumo, Esther and I had to walk quite a distance visiting many shops until we found favour. A businessman removed the wheel we needed from a new bicycle and sold it to us. I bought all the parts from him and thanked him. It might seem strange but remember only one type of rear wheel is suitable to be used in the front of this tricycle wheelchair. Esther was not feeling well so we put her in a Matattu (mini bus) home. This is why it was so late by time we got back to Jumo’s house in Dandora and fixed the wheelchair.” We had visited many shops with no success until we found favour.”

After successfully fixing the wheelchair it was dark and time to go home so Jumo escorted me to the bus stage.”

What exactly is a disability? Is it really a handicap? Or an advantage?

If you know my story you know I spent over 2 years of my life on crutches and in a wheel chair as a child

Reporting from Nairobi Kenya taking care of dad’s business

alan.