This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
From Paralysis to Purpose ¶
At 20 years old, Brian Muchiri's life took a drastic turn after a car accident left him paralyzed from the armpits down. He was in his third year of studying purchasing and supplies at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
"I was in a car with four other people, three of whom died on the spot. After that, life took a 360-degrees turn for me and my family," he recalls.
His parents had to give up many of their daily activities to care for him, and he had to quit school. He was bedridden for two years, completely dependent on his parents.
However, Brian's determination to live a fulfilling life led him to discover his passion for writing. He started posting short stories on his Facebook page in 2015 and has since built a significant following.
"One of my cousins who read my posts on Facebook was impressed by my writing talent and introduced me to the editor of Potentash, a lifestyle blog. After sending her some of my work, I was given a chance and for the first time in my life, I had a job. That was in 2019," he says.
Today, Brian runs a weekly series that sheds light on disability issues and raises awareness on the intricacies of the lives of people with disabilities. He also writes for Love Matters Africa, where he seeks to debunk stereotypes associated with the disabled, their relationships, and their sexuality.
Through his initiative, Strong Spine Foundation, Brian and his team have supplied diapers to many vulnerable disabled people and managed to build a house for an orphaned young man in Njoro.
"I have also empowered other disabled people to come out, tell their stories, and live full lives," he says.
Despite the challenges he faces, including writing long articles using only his mobile phone, Brian remains determined to break stereotypes and inspire others.
"It started with attending physiotherapy sessions so that I could sit up and feed myself. Then I started combing my hair, before learning to use my phone to write. Getting a motorised wheelchair was the biggest mark of independence for me because with it, I could move from place to place," he says.
