A disability advocate in Mombasa is celebrating after a student he supported from scratch completed his diploma course at the Technical University of Mombasa and is now preparing to graduate.
Jonathan Metet, a persons with disabilities (PWD) ambassador, shared the remarkable journey of Brian Henry Nyabuto, a wheelchair user whose path to university began with a simple WhatsApp message from a mutual contact named Sammy Ondimu Ngare.
One Call That Opened Doors fo Brian Nyabuto
Metet had never heard of Brian until Sammy reached out asking for help. After verifying Brian’s background through a former teacher at Mombasa Secondary School for the Physically Impaired, Metet spoke directly with the young man and quickly recognised the challenges ahead.
Rather than directing Brian to a private college in Mombasa town, which raised concerns around accessibility for wheelchair users, Metet advised him to apply to TUM.
He then walked Brian through every step of the admissions process until the letter arrived.
“Looking back, if Sammy Ondimu had not made that initial call, I might never have met Brian, and his journey in pursuit of education might have taken a different direction,” Metet said.
Once Brian enrolled, Metet went further. He engaged the Dean of Students, the Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Chairperson of the Department of Social Sciences to ensure Brian settled in comfortably. The university provided him with accessible accommodation throughout his studies.
Wheelchair, Leadership Role and a Graduation on the Horizon
Recognising Brian’s mobility needs, Metet connected him with Hope Mobility Kenya through Jerop and Michael Panther. Working alongside the Mohamed Ali Foundation in Nyali, the organisation provided Brian with a brand new wheelchair, a development Metet described as essential to Brian’s independence and participation in university life.
Brian’s time at TUM went beyond the classroom. He was vetted and appointed as a Commissioner in the Electoral College responsible for overseeing student elections, a role that underlined his capacity for leadership when given the right environment.
Support for Brian came from multiple quarters, including the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Likoni CDF, his church, the TUMSA Bursary, the Rattansi Foundation and the broader TUM community.
Brian is now set to graduate in November 2026.
Reflecting on the journey, Metet described it as proof of what collective responsibility and timely action can achieve.
“Sometimes, one phone call or WhatsApp message can open doors that seemed impossible to access,” he said, adding that disability inclusion is not a matter of charity but of rights, dignity and equal opportunity.
