She recalls the struggles she faced, not only in ensuring her child received the necessary care but also in trying to get support from a man who had turned his back on them.
"I noticed something was off when my son turned three.
He wasn’t speaking or using the potty. When I took him to the hospital, I was told it could be delayed speech.
But by the time he turned four, I couldn’t wait any longer," Amondi shared.
After visiting a psychiatrist, she was given the heartbreaking news that her son had autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
This marked the beginning of an uphill battle, one she had to fight alone.
Amondi was not only dealing with her son’s condition but also facing betrayal in her marriage.
"Instead of taking care of us, he was busy sending money to his side chicks.
I saw his M-Pesa messages. It’s not that he didn’t have money—he just didn’t care," she said.
Whenever she tried to work, her husband would quarrel with her until she was forced to quit.
With no job and a child who needed constant therapy, she was left struggling to provide for her family.
"I had to push him to provide. Sometimes, I even went to the chief to report him. But even then, he was not consistent in helping us," she lamented.
Amondi tried her best to enroll her son in school, but financial struggles made it impossible to keep up with fees.
"His progress depended on therapy, but when I couldn’t pay, he started regressing. It was painful to watch," she said.
She begged school directors and teachers to give her son a chance, but many turned them away.
Even special needs schools declined to admit him due to his condition worsening over time.
Despite the many challenges, Amondi has refused to give up on her son.
"I will keep fighting for him. He deserves a good life, just like any other child," she said, holding back tears.
Her story reflects the struggles many single mothers go through in Kenya, especially those raising children with special needs.
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