Earlier this year, Pepeta told James Njagi’s story through a documentary that captured his determination and his love for pool. But the intention went beyond telling an inspiring story.
It was an invitation for Kenyans to look beyond his circumstances and show up for a fellow human being.
This story gave birth to the #Jitokeze Campaign, through the campaign, Pepeta helped James establish his pool business, giving him an opportunity to pursue his passion while building a livelihood.
The documentary resonated with audiences on social media, drawing attention to James’s journey and encouraging people to rally behind him.
When Pepeta first shared James’s story, there was no way of knowing who would see it or what might happen as a result.
The immediate intention was to support James and encourage Kenyans to show up for James and themselves.
Yet the story travelled further, reaching people beyond the original campaign and connecting James with Armock, an organisation working to support people who have lost limbs through prosthetic assistance.
His determination to keep going caught their attention, opening the door to a connection that would bring a new possibility into his life.
A story that began with one man’s determination had reached people who could help him take another step forward.
A new chapter: James receives prosthetic arms
Through Armock’s intervention, James received mechanical prosthetic arms, marking another significant chapter in his journey.
For James, the prostheses represent more than a physical intervention. They brought new possibilities to explore, new skills to learn and another opportunity to build greater independence.
His journey, however, is not a story of everything suddenly becoming easy. Learning to use prosthetic arms takes time, practice and patience.
Each new experience brings its own adjustments, and the road ahead continues to unfold.
But that is what makes James’s story so powerful.
He has already shown that losing an arm did not mean losing his purpose. Now, with his prostheses, he has another opportunity to discover what is possible.
His journey reminds us that progress does not always arrive as one dramatic moment. Sometimes, it comes through people who recognise a need, extend a hand and help someone move forward.
Pepeta na Jamii: Making a difference beyond the game
James’s journey reflects the thinking behind Pepeta na Jamii, through Pepeta na Jamii, Pepeta seeks to extend its impact beyond gaming by supporting people and communities through meaningful initiatives.
The focus is on recognising real needs, creating opportunities and using the power of stories and community engagement to inspire positive change.
For Pepeta na Jamii, stories like James’s are a reminder that impact is not measured only by the number of people who see a campaign.
It is also found in the conversations it starts, the connections it creates and the possibilities it helps unlock.
We told his story once to remind Kenyans that showing up matters.
We are telling it again because hope is not a one-time event. It grows when people care enough to act, when communities rally around one another, and when one person’s determination inspires another to help.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller Joseph Mbugua
Country Manager, Pepeta.com
Pepeta na Jamii — When we show up, the community moves forward.
Pepeta na Jamii — When we show up, the community moves forward.
