10-YEAR-OLD GIRL BATTLES SEVERE EYE SWELLING AS FAMILY PLEADS FOR KSH 150,000 LIFESAVING TREATMENT

Residents of Kenyoro Village in Riokindo are appealing for urgent financial assistance to help a 10-year-old girl suffering from a severe eye condition that has progressively worsened since birth, leaving her unable to see normally and forcing her family into desperation.

The young girl is reported to have a large swelling on her right eye, a condition that has not only affected her vision but also her ability to enjoy a normal childhood. Locals say she struggles to interact and play with other children, with the visible swelling affecting her confidence and daily life.

According to her mother, Divinah Nyaboke, the condition started shortly after birth when a small swelling was first noticed.

“The problem began at birth when the little girl started to develop a small swelling, but I was unable to take her to the hospital at the time because I thought the swelling would go away on its own. But it did not; instead, it continued to grow. When she turned five, the condition worsened, which forced me to seek medical attention,” she said.

Nyaboke explains that she first took her daughter to Nyanchwa Hospital in Kisii Town, where doctors assessed her condition and referred her to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialized treatment.

However, the family says they were told that the treatment would cost approximately KSh 150,000—an amount they have been unable to raise due to financial hardship.

“At Nyanchwa Hospital, we were referred to Kenyatta National Hospital, where we were told we would need to pay KSh 150,000 to cover the medical bills. Due to poverty, I was unable to raise the money,” she added.

The situation has now pushed the family to make a public appeal for help, hoping well-wishers and leaders will step in so the young girl can receive the treatment she urgently needs.

Community members say the child’s condition has caused emotional distress within the family, who continue to watch her suffer while hoping for a breakthrough in fundraising efforts.

The family is now calling on leaders and the public to intervene, naming area representatives including MP Obadiah Barongo, nominated Senator Essy Okenyuri, Kisii MP Donya Dorice, and Governor Simba Arati.

“The child is young and needs a normal life growing up,” the family pleaded.

As the appeal spreads across the village, residents are urging anyone of goodwill to step forward and help the girl undergo surgery and reclaim her childhood, education, and future.