While some have married and started their own family, she revealed majority of her children are completely dependent.
Nairobi: Being a mother is one of the most precious experiences in a woman’s life. The joy of holding your newborn is unmatched. Yet, when a child is born with a disability, the concern and care for that child become paramount. For one woman in Kenya, misfortune struck not once or twice, but an unimaginable eleven times. Agnes Nespóndi, a resident of Kisumu village, gave birth to 11 children—each of them born blind.
Agnes’s life after marriage began like any other, full of hope and happiness. When she became pregnant for the first time, she and her husband were overjoyed. Their firstborn, a boy, brought immense joy to the family. However, soon after birth, they noticed something unusual—he seemed unable to see. Concerned, Agnes and her husband took him to the hospital, where doctors confirmed their fears: the baby was blind. Initially, even medical professionals struggled to understand the cause.
Hoping the next child might be healthy, Agnes went on to have ten more pregnancies. Tragically, each time, the child was born blind. Despite this extraordinary misfortune, Agnes and her husband raised their children with love and care.
Unimaginable Misfortune Strike
In 1994, Agnes’s husband passed away, leaving her to care for all 11 children alone. Now, as she ages, the challenge of looking after her grown but visually impaired children has become even more difficult. Her eldest son is already in his 40s, yet the responsibility of supporting their mother falls entirely on these young blind adults. Despite the hardships, the children help their mother as much as they can.
In an interview with Afrimax English, Agnes revealed her wish is to get someone to train her children to be independent or equip them with vocational skills. Because she fears if she dies her children will suffer.
According to her, she toiled to give them formal education, but after completion, they are yet to get any job opportunities. While some have married and started their own family, she revealed majority of her children are completely dependent, which is too much work for her to do.
Locals in the village have reacted with disbelief and superstition. Some claim that Agnes has been cursed or subjected to black magic, which is why all her children were born blind.
Agnes’s story stands as a poignant reminder of a mother’s enduring love, even in the face of extraordinary adversity.
