Blind artisan finds his niche in shoe polishing

Muna Gitau [Photo: Jally Kihara/Standard]

By Jally Kihara

Nakuru, Kenya: He hums a popular gospel tune as he diligently works on the shoes of a customer in Njoro town.

It is evident that Muna Gitau loves his work, and does it with gusto. However, Gitau who runs JM’s Shoeshine is not an ordinary shoe-shiner, as he is blind.

On this morning last week, Gitau was working on the shoes of Inspector Peter Kariuki of the Administration Police, Njoro Sub County. Kairuki is one of his high-profile and regular customers.

As he polishes the AP officer’s shoes, it is hard to note that Gitau is blind.

The 62-year-old lost his sight 20 years ago following the 1997 ethnic clashes, but this has not stopped him from earning a living through the work he loves.

“I lost my sight when I was living in Ndeffo, Njoro Sub County. It was among areas hit most by ethnic clashes,” said Gitau, a father of 11.

He recounted that on that day, armed youths attacked his home seeking to eject him from his land. “I heard a commotion outside my house. When I went to check, someone shot me with an arrow. I fell down and heard the attackers say that I was dead. They then fled,” recalled Gitau, who adds he forgave his attackers. Gitau was rushed to hospital in Nakuru town.

“I spent months in hospital receiving treatment but I ended up losing my eyesight,” he narrated.

Later, he went back to his home after the clashes had ended but his life was already ruined. Poverty pushed him into the streets of Njoro town where he begged for food and money.

Earn living

As fate would have it, Lady Luck struck and Gitau was admitted to Machakos Institute for the Blind, where he enrolled for a course in leather workshop and shoe shining.

“I joined the college as I had accepted my fate that I was blind.  The course has helped me a great deal as I am able to earn a living,” he said.

As he narrated his plight, Tom Ndalo Kose, the Assistant County Commissioner Lare Division, arrived for shoe polishing.

Like other customers, he sat on a bench and informed Gitau that he uses dark tan shoe polish. Gitau fetched the shoe polish from a drawer without any hitch. Ndalo said he preferred Gitau to other shoe shiners in the town because he works hard despite his disability.

“He is perfect in his work to an extent you cannot tell that he is blind. I find his shed strategic as our offices are nearby. As a society, we should promote and encourage him,” said Ndalo.

Senior Chief Ezekiel Omboti of Gichobo location, another loyal and regular customer, said he always seeks the sexagenarian’s services because of his dedication. .

“This man went through so much pain in his life but he has not given up. He wakes very early and walks his way to his place of work. His determination and perseverance is amazing and should be appreciated,” Omboti said.

John Kariuki, his neighbour, said Gitau was a hardworking man even before he lost his eyesight.

Good work

“I have not come to terms with the fact that Gitau is now totally blind after going through a harrowing experience. But it is good that he has taken life head on and he is doing good work despite being disabled. The problem is that he is suffering from diabetes, which needs a lot of money to manage,” he said.

Decent living

As we talk, a careless matatu driver who was stopping to pick passengers at the terminus almost knocks down Gitau’s shed.

This is one of the challenges the shoe-shiner has to put up with each day as he seeks to earn a decent living.

“I cannot control such misfortunes but I know God is protecting me. He will not allow anything bad to happen to me as I am doing my best to feed my family,” he said.