A Kenyan man living in the United States is in a race against time to bring donated disability equipment worth KSh23.1 million into Kenya after the government declined his request for a tax exemption.
Fanya Mambo Kinuthia says that in May 2026, a charitable organisation based in the United Kingdom handed over a consignment of wheelchairs, crutches, walking aids and other assistive devices valued at £132,000 (KSh 23,033,260), all intended for Kenyans living with disabilities who cannot afford such equipment.
A Donation Stuck at the Border
Despite the humanitarian nature of the goods, Kinuthia says his application for a tax exemption through the Ministry of Finance was unsuccessful.
The rejection has effectively left the equipment in limbo, raising the prospect that it could deteriorate or be redirected elsewhere before it ever reaches a single Kenyan beneficiary.
“I fear these valuable donations could eventually go to waste while thousands of Kenyans continue struggling without basic mobility equipment,” Kinuthia said.
The situation has spotlighted a long-standing concern among charity workers and diaspora donors: Kenya’s import tax framework can be difficult to navigate for genuine humanitarian shipments, and the exemption process is not straightforward even when the goods involved are clearly non-commercial.
Kinuthia is not giving up. He is now reaching out broadly, calling on fellow Kenyans in the diaspora, well-wishers, corporate partners, disability rights advocates and government officials to join hands and find a workable path forward.
He frames the initiative as a shared humanitarian responsibility, one where the goal is simple: ensuring that donated equipment reaches the people whose lives it could transform.
For someone who cannot walk, a wheelchair is not a convenience; it is the difference between independence and total dependence on others.
Kinuthia believes that with the right support, whether through legal guidance on the exemption process, advocacy directed at relevant government agencies or logistical and financial assistance, the consignment can still reach its intended recipients and restore mobility, dignity and quality of life to those who need it most.
