For decades, many families in Kenya’s Northern Frontier counties have lived with a quiet pain. Children born with developmental disabilities were often kept indoors, away from schools, clinics and community life, not because they were unloved, but because stigma, fear and harmful cultural beliefs labelled disability as a curse.
In some cases, this silence tore families apart, leading to separation and divorce, with mothers—more often than not—left to carry the burden alone. It is against this deeply rooted reality that the #DontHideMe initiative has emerged as a beacon of hope.
Between December 9 and 13 2025, Mandera witnessed something extraordinary at Dawa Integrated School, where the Don’t Hide Me clinic and assessment programme took place under the theme “From Hidden to Visible – Restoring Dignity for Children with Special Needs.”
The numbers alone tell a powerful story: 780 persons with disabilities turned up to seek services—the highest attendance since the programme began in 2024. But beyond the numbers were faces of relief, courage and long-overdue recognition.
The Don’t Hide Me initiative, in Mandera led by committed leaders including Mohamed Adan Khalif, Hon (Rtd) Major Dekow, MP for Garissa Township, Hon Hussein Weitan of Mandera East and supported by organisations such as Safe Surgical Aid and Africa Aid, is redefining what humanitarian action looks like in marginalised regions. With the backing of Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Maalim Abdullahi, the dedication of health professionals, and tireless volunteers, the gracious woman who initiated this movement, the campaign has moved beyond awareness into tangible impact.
At its core, Don’t Hide Me is about access. Children received medical assessments, physiotherapy and hearing tests—services that are often unavailable or unreachable for families in remote areas. Parents were supported to process birth certificates, register with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and enrol in the Social Health Authority. These interventions may sound administrative, but in reality, they are transformative. They open doors to education, healthcare, social protection and legal recognition. They turn invisible lives into counted citizens.
Equally important is what the initiative says to parents who have struggled in silence. To the mothers who have walked long distances carrying children on their backs, to the fathers who have wrestled with shame imposed by society, Don’t Hide Me sends a clear message: you are not alone, and you are not to blame. By bringing services closer to communities, the programme restores dignity not only to children but also to the families who have loved and protected them against all odds.
The strong support shown by the County Government of Mandera is a reminder that inclusion requires partnership. When county leadership, national figures, NGOs and communities work together, change becomes possible—even in places long neglected. The Mandera outreach proved that when stigma is challenged with compassion and facts, families are willing to step forward.
Perhaps the greatest impact of Don’t Hide Me is cultural. By encouraging families to bring children out of hiding, the initiative confronts myths that have persisted for generations. It replaces fear with understanding and shame with solidarity. Visibility becomes a powerful tool of healing.
As Kenya continues to speak about equity and leaving no one behind, #DontHideMe offers a practical roadmap. It reminds us that dignity begins with being seen, that rights begin with registration, and that hope begins when a parent is told, “Your child matters.”
To the struggling parents of Mandera and beyond: your resilience is seen, your sacrifices are honoured, and your children’s futures are worth fighting for. From hidden to visible, a new chapter has begun.
Writer is the CECM Lands Physical Planning and Urban Development, County Government of Mandera
