Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi has pledged to support the medical treatment of a 14-year-old boy living with spina bifida after an emotional meeting during a school launch event in Kapseret Constituency.
According to Sudi, Ian Kipkoech travelled with his mother, Yvonne, from Korara in Bomet East after seeing a social media poster announcing the event. The MP said Ian had long hoped to meet him because he admired his efforts to assist vulnerable families.
Sudi revealed that Ian’s mother sold a sheep to raise transport fare for the journey from Bomet to Kiambaa, where the event was being held.
The legislator said he was deeply moved after learning of the teenager’s struggles. Ian has lived with spina bifida since birth and underwent surgery at Kijabe Hospital in 2012. Following the operation, he lost the use of his legs. He is also living with hydrocephalus and requires an urgent shunt procedure to drain excess fluid from his brain.
Despite his health challenges, Ian is a Grade Five pupil at Phaprican School in Korara, where Sudi described him as a bright and determined learner.
The MP added that Ian is also experiencing heart-related complications, with doctors at Tenwek Hospital recommending treatment that the family cannot afford. As a result, he has been relying on pain medication while awaiting further medical care.
To improve his mobility, Sudi donated a wheelchair to the young boy during the meeting.
“I gave him a wheelchair to aid his movement and restore some dignity as he moves around,” the MP said.
Sudi also highlighted the struggles of Ian’s mother, a single parent who earns a living by washing clothes and cleaning houses to provide for her son. He noted that the family does not have a permanent home and faces significant financial hardship.
The legislator announced plans to enroll Ian in the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme and personally facilitate his medical treatment.
“His faith carried him across counties to find me. Now it’s our turn to carry him the rest of the way,” Sudi said.
