I am not a drunk, I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
It was a bright Nairobi morning when Isaac Kasyoka, armed with years of experience in finance and freshly updated résumés, walked into a job interview. But instead of being welcomed, he was turned away. “They thought I was drunk,” Isaac recalls. “My gait was off. I staggered a bit. But it wasn’t alcohol — it was multiple sclerosis.”
“I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in January 2022,” Isaac says. “But I started experiencing symptoms back in 2021. I thought it was just fatigue… but it was MS.”
What is MS?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition that disrupts the central nervous system. For Isaac, it began subtly. Then, his gait changed. People thought he was drunk because of the way he staggered when walking.
“It’s a condition that affects stability, strength, coordination. You can’t cook, clean, or even dress without help,” he explains. “Seated, you may look fine. But stand up, and you look very unstable.”
Eventually, it cost him his job — and his marriage.
“My spouse left. She couldn’t cope with my new reality. I had to find a house I could manage alone. Leaning on walls to move. Everything changed.”
Managing With Faith and Hustle
Isaac’s faith is his foundation. “I live alone. But God wakes me up every day. That’s how I manage. That’s how I keep going.”
But faith alone doesn’t pay rent. Isaac had to reinvent himself. He discovered remote work and began picking up small gigs online. “If it wasn’t for remote work, I honestly wouldn’t be where I am,” he admits.
With just a bit of internet and a lot of grit, Isaac keeps his bills paid — barely. But he’s not bitter. “It’s working out. Slowly, yes. But I’m alive. I’m surviving.”
Finding EnableMe — And Finding Hope
Isaac stumbled across EnableMe by chance, watching YouTube on his TV. He saw a video featuring a man named Brian, reached out, and got connected.
From there, things began to shift. “Through EnableMe community, I got a scholarship to study software engineering online. They also helped me access training through CREA Institute,” Isaac says. “It’s been a huge boost.”
« “People think when you have a disability, you can’t do anything. But all we need is opportunity,” he says. “Treat us like human beings. Give us dignity. Give us a chance.” »
Fighting For Others Like Him
Not content to merely survive, Isaac turned his pain into purpose. He founded the Multiple Sclerosis Kenya Foundation, a grassroots organization that advocates for MS awareness and support.
He also leads Talented Persons with Disabilities Kenya, an initiative that showcases the abilities of people with disabilities.
“People assume disability means you can’t contribute,” he says. “But I have an MBA. I’ve got over seven certifications. I’m a financial analyst. We are talented. We are capable.”
He spends his days analyzing financial records and running programs. He writes grant proposals, seeks partnerships, and organizes awareness campaigns — often from a modest home with a shaky internet connection. His dream? A pan-African MS awareness movement.
Barriers, Bureaucracy, and the Need for Solidarity
But Isaac is candid about the harsh realities.
“We have a certificate, a bank account, a KRA PIN — we’re fully formal. But we’re stuck. We lack funding. And without it, we can't run our awareness campaigns, can’t maintain our office, can’t reach those still undiagnosed.”
He dreams of launching a continent-wide MS Africa Awareness Campaign. He wants to reach churches, schools, and rural communities — starting with Nairobi, then beyond.
“We even want to do a study how adrenaline affects MS,” he adds. “But none of that can happen without partners. Without donors. We need urgent help.”
An Urgent Message: “We Are Still Human”
Isaac’s story is a mirror for society. It reflects the silent suffering, the quiet courage, the institutional gaps, and the urgent need for empathy.
“People think when you have a disability, you can’t do anything. But all we need is opportunity,” he says. “Treat us like human beings. Give us dignity. Give us a chance.”
And then he adds, softly but firmly: “I didn’t choose MS. But I chose to live. And I chose to fight — not just for me, but for all of us.”
Interview by: Maryanne Emomeri