When James Njagi walked into a pool tournament in Embakasi East, Nairobi, organizers were taken aback. The 47-year-old had only one arm but wanted to compete against able-bodied players.
Instead of asking for special treatment, he simply asked to be registered like everyone else.
Hours later, spectators watched in amazement as James Njagi balanced the cue stick with his foot and calmly sank shot after shot, earning applause from opponents and fans alike.
James Njagi Finds Hope at the Pool Table
It was a remarkable moment for a man whose life had been turned upside down years earlier by a road accident that cost him his left arm and his career as a trailer truck driver.
“I wasn’t looking for sympathy,” James said. “I just wanted a chance to play.”
The tournament became a turning point in a journey marked by tragedy, resilience and determination.
James had spent years working as a trailer truck driver, transporting goods across the country to provide for his family.
But in 2009, while driving a trailer from Mombasa to Kitui carrying more than 700 bags weighing 90 kilograms each, a disaster struck.
“The truck overturned and slid for about 50 metres. When I realized we had been involved in an accident, I closed my eyes because I didn’t want to see what had happened,” he recalled.
When he regained consciousness, he discovered that his arm had been almost completely severed.
“My arm was hanging only by a piece of skin. I held onto it until I was taken to hospital.”
Doctors were unable to save the limb and amputated his arm.
The accident not only changed his physical condition but also ended the job he had relied on for years.
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James Nyagi Stayed Indoors After Tragic Accident
Adjusting to life after the accident proved even more difficult than recovering from his injuries.
James said he struggled to accept himself and avoided leaving his home after experiencing hurtful reactions from people around him.
“Whenever I walked to a nearby shop, children would see me and run away crying. That hurt me deeply,” he said.
“I felt like I no longer belonged in society, so I stayed indoors.”
He remained isolated for nearly two years before a friend handed him a book titled The Power of Healing.
Reading the book, he said, helped him regain confidence and begin rebuilding his life.
“After I finished it, I realised I still had a future. I found the courage to go outside again.”
Finding Purpose Through Pool
As he slowly returned to everyday life, James rediscovered his love for pool. The challenge was learning to play with one arm.
Instead of giving up, he experimented by resting the cue stick on his foot. “The first day I placed the cue stick on my foot, I realised I could still play. It felt like a miracle,” he said.
He practised relentlessly until he developed a unique playing style that combined balance, patience and precision.
“That was when I told myself I wasn’t disabled. I had only been injured while trying to earn an honest living.”
Today, James competes confidently using his remaining arm and his foot, a skill that continues to surprise many people who watch him play.
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A Chance That Opened New Doors
James’ determination caught the attention of organisers during a Pepeta pool tournament in Embakasi East. He recalled that some people questioned how he intended to compete.
“When I registered, they looked at me in disbelief. They wondered how I would play, but they still gave me the opportunity.”
Although he did not win the tournament, his performance became one of its defining moments.
His story later inspired organizers to help him establish a pool business by providing him with two fully equipped pool tables and securing business premises.
Today, James earns a living from the sport that helped restore his confidence.
More Than a Game
Now a pool hall owner, James says every game reminds him of how far he has come since the accident.
He hopes his story encourages others facing adversity not to give up. “Losing my arm ended my career, but it didn’t end my life,” he said.
For James, success is no longer measured by trophies or titles. It is measured by the opportunity to work, provide for himself, and prove that disability does not define a person’s potential.
His courage sparked conversations within Pepeta about the power of resilience and the importance of taking that first step despite fear, hardship, or uncertainty. That inspiration has now grown into Jitokeze.
More than just a campaign, Jitokeze is a call to every Kenyan to step forward, believe in themselves, and refuse to let circumstances define their future.
Whether you’re chasing a dream, rebuilding after a setback, starting a business, pursuing a talent, or simply trying again after failure, Jitokeze reminds us that remarkable things begin with one simple decision: Show up.
James Njagi’s journey proves that courage doesn’t always look extraordinary.
Sometimes, courage is walking into a tournament when everyone doubts you belong.
Sometimes, it is learning to play with your foot when life takes away your arm.
Sometimes, it is choosing hope after heartbreak.
And sometimes, your decision to show up becomes the inspiration that changes someone else’s life.
Be inspired.
Take the first step.
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