Nelly Otunga. She uses her talent to earn a living from knitting just inside her house in Banana Kiambu County. [Photo: Victor Wanaswa]
When Nelly Otunga lost her legs as a result of polio three years after birth, life seemed bleak and never did she think she would become self-reliant and excel in business.
Several years later and Nelly is doing well through knitting at her Banana home in Kiambu county, skills which she learnt through a tutorial from the internet.
She lost her two legs as a result of polio infection three years after birth. She never received the polio vaccination.
“There is a photo is usually see at home and my mom tells me that I lost my legs as a result of polio vaccination, my mother didn’t have any knowledge of polio at that time,” said Otunga.
Nelly says her mother never knew anything about immunisation.
However, she has equipped herself with skills that have enabled her to become self-reliant.
Through the internet, she has learnt how to knit and crochet and now makes dresses, shoes and Marvin’s for newborn babies which she later sells at a profit in Nairobi city.
Her greatest motivation is her children. She fills fulfilled as a mother when she is able to provide for their needs.
In her goodwill, Nelly looks forward to training willing learners to boost the production of her business and for the benefit of the trainees.
“My plan is to start a training school for knitting because I get a lot of people who want me to teach how to do this but unfortunately am doing my work in my house and there is not enough space to accommodate them,” she adds.