Nominated MP David Ole Sankok opened up on trials and tribulations that he faced when he wanted to get married, due to his disability.
Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke, the vocal MP revealed that after he had been paralyzed by a doctors' injection at the age of 12, life became difficult for him, but one of the toughest moments was when he wanted to get married.
"There is this girl that I had known all through primary school. When I was in college and she had completed high school, I approached her and told her that we were now in a position to get married. We were friends and neighbours so I did not expect that she was going to turn me down," he revealed.
Upon approaching her, she turned him down, explaining that the relationship they shared was not an indication of love, but she pitied him due to his condition.
Sankok further revealed that the lady insulted him and dismissed his affection as weird and unnatural before asking him to never suggest the idea again.
"A disabled person in my community is literally referred to as Eng'oki, a curse. Sometimes they are also referred to as Ormaima, in reference to the legless, rubbery seal. At other times a disabled person is likened with a hyena," he intimated.
"Who would like to marry a curse? Your community calls you a wild animal, and not even a desirable animal, but a worthless one. Who would want to marry an animal?" he spoke.
Sankok's woes were compounded by the fact that he came from a poor background , while the object of his affection was from a wealthy and respected family.
"In their compound, they had a vehicle, a tractor, and many other pieces of machinery. She told me that in my family, the only thing resembling their place was an axe and that I slept on ox-hide and lived in a muddy house. How could she get married to someone like me?" he recalled in retrospect.
With time, however, Sankok met Hellen Seyianoi at a time when he was so broke that he could only afford Ksh5 for ice cream during their date.
They now have 6 children together in their 21-year old marriage.
