Bishop Emeritus Dr. Jackson Kosgei has opened up about his remarkable life journey, decrying how society continues to burden persons with disabilities, often pushing them into stigma and low self-esteem.
Speaking during an interview on Radio 47’s Breakfast Show, the nominated Member of Parliament, recounted painful memories from his childhood and the struggles that have shaped him into the respected leader he is today.
At just five years old, he contracted polio, which not only delayed his growth but also exposed him to discrimination, including harsh mistreatment at an airport in later years.
Now 70, the father of renowned gospel singer Emmy Kosgei credits his late mother for saving his life. He revealed that it was her courage and defiance of cultural practices that ensured he survived his most vulnerable years.
“It was common practice among pastoralist communities at the time for disabled children to be thrown at the gates where animals passed so they could be trampled because society did not want them,” he shared. “My mother shielded me until I was ten.”
His turning point came in 1973 during a prayer session he attended at the invitation of his wife, then a resident of Baringo County. It was at that event that he converted to Christianity, a decision that changed the course of his life.
Shortly after, he married her, despite having no formal education at the time.
“I needed to live my life like anyone else. I knew I could do it,” he said.
Determined to prove himself, he enrolled in school at the age of 20, starting an academic journey that eventually earned him the title of Doctor.
While his faith journey has had its share of challenges, it is his political life that has often drawn public attention. Bishop Kosgei recalled a dramatic incident during his tenure as a member of the Kenya Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (KECOPAC).
He once refused to alight from an airplane due to the lack of facilities to assist disabled passengers.“A managing director mocked me, asking, ‘How did you even manage to board our plane when we don’t carry passengers with such demands?’” he said, referring to the airline’s failure to provide lifts and proper boarding assistance.
The standoff, which lasted about 40 minutes, attracted police and parliamentary intervention and according to him, eventually cost the airline millions and led to its closure.
Even after being nominated to Parliament, Bishop Kosgei says he continues to face doubt and scrutiny because of his disability.
“Society keeps wondering if you really need to do what everyone else does,” he remarked. “You end up living your entire life answering that question. You must work twice as hard to prove your worth.”
Through it all, Bishop Kosgei remains a passionate advocate for the rights of disabled persons and a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity.
