One of the challenges of being a deaf person is getting employment.
The deaf are often shunned away probably because of the belief that working with them is a challenge.
However, Oserian Flower farm located in Naivasha has set out to dispel the myth.
The farm has employed 70 deaf people who help in the day to day running of the farm, which deals with export of roses worldwide. It has employed 26 interpreters to help in communicating with them too.
Among the deaf is Catherine Atieno, who has been working in the packaging department for the last four and half years.
Atieno deals with ensuring the flowers are well leveled and of export quality before they are shipped to the various destinations.
The mother of one pointed out that working in the flower farm has enabled her earn a living.
“I love working in the farm as it gives me a sense of purpose. Most people who are abled differently opt to go and beg but I have chosen to use my hands to provide for myself and my child. I also love working here because I can be able to meet and engage with other deaf people, where we exchange ideas and even form Sacco groups to invest,” she added.
Charles Kamunyu and Zabedi Kagoki, a couple who are deaf, have been working in the farm for the last 15 years.
“We are able to enjoy our work and in the evening when we go home we can share our experiences, frustrations and even achievement. Our children who are in high school have been offered scholarship by the company and we have even been receiving a lot of support from other workers,” Said Kamunyu.
Oserian Human resource manager Mary Kinyua praised the workers.
“One of them has won the best worker of the year for the last 13 years. We however recommend that most of them work in the pack house and have been training interpreters to ensure they can communicate anything they need,” she added. She added that they are also provided with housing, electricity and are offered scholarship in case they want to further their studies.
Kinyua added they also embarked on inhouse training for their staff so that they can communicate in sign language.
"Sometimes they want to say things which are very personal and its important for them to be able to directly share with someone who can understand them," she added
Currently the flower farm has 4500 workers