Allowing the impossible to become possible…
PIUS LENAKUKUYA’S STORY
When an accident left him paralysed from the neck down, doctors told Pius he’d never walk again. Fast-forward six years later to today, and Pius is not only walking, but also fulfilling his life’s calling as a Field Guide – driving all over Namunyak’s wilderness and inspiring Samburu children with his resilience, strength, and humility.
It's no wonder Pius’ favourite animals are lions and elephants, and that he admires these animals for their bravery and strength. When he talks about his journey and shares the challenges of the past few years, these same qualities highlight the courage that saw him overcome hardship as he grew into the remarkable man he was always meant to be.
THIS IS HIS STORY
“You could say I was very lucky in the way I ended up getting an education,” says Pius, adding that he was the only one of 25 children in his family who went to school. “I was sent there as punishment after losing three cows while herding our livestock and the cows were eaten by lions. My parents sent me to boarding school to teach me a lesson, and it turned out to be a very good lesson. Thinking back, things worked out for the better, because if I didn’t lose those three cows, I wouldn’t be where I am today…”
As a committed student with big dreams, Pius was far more successful at his studies than tending cattle. At the same time, he never forgot his roots and is just as dedicated to his culture and the land of his birth – Samburu. Being a young schoolboy back then didn't come without difficulties, and the reality of belonging to a pastoralist community, who moved a lot in search of pasture, at times hit home quite literally! "I remember returning from school one holiday, and our home was just gone! My family had migrated to a different place, and I had no idea where. My heart felt as if it was going to jump out of my body…”
Thinking on his feet, he located neighbours who took him in for the night and gave him directions to his family’s new home the next day. After walking all on his own for 15km, he was reunited with his family; and from then on, his father would come to the school to let him know when they moved.
A TRAGIC TURN
Pius’ strength of character weaves like a golden thread throughout his story. Being sent to school as a punishment was a building block of his later success in life – and when tragedy turned his world upside down, he not only overcame adversity – but also used it as an incentive for all his subsequent achievements.
“Everything was numb. I could only talk, hear, and think – but the rest of my body was gone.” The motorcycle accident that broke Pius’ spine left him paralysed – but it never broke his spirit. In the early days after the tragedy, Pius required around-the-clock help, including being dressed and fed. After spending months in hospital, he also had to learn how to move from scratch, and even had a special mattress as his body was so soft that normal mattresses hurt.
“It was an incredibly tough time. So many people said I wouldn’t survive, or that I’d never walk again. So I said to myself: Well, then you’d have to prove them wrong. You will walk.”
ROAD TO RECOVERY
From receiving the first-ever spinal surgery in the region, to being treated by doctors who were brought in from Wyoming in the US to do physiotherapy as well as acupuncture, every step of his healing journey formed part of a whole that asked him to remain positive, hopeful, and focused. “Slowly but surely, I started regaining the ability to move a few body parts – at first just my fingers and my toes, and only on my right side.” Little by little, movement returned to his life, and with it, proof that he would walk again one day. Ultimately, Pius would rise above the cards he’d been dealt.
During this time, it was incredible to witness how everyone at Sarara came together for Pius – from helping to build bars on which he practiced taking his first steps, to askaris, chefs, and more supporting him to ensure that he didn't fall.
Two and a half years after the accident, he was walking unassisted, and to this day, he keeps getting stronger as he continues to recover from his injuries. While he still experiences some stiffness, especially in his left hip, he’s recently graduated from college and now works as a Field Guide at Sarara, with no plans to stop learning and adding to his knowledge and skills anytime soon!
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
In 2020, Janine Shepherd, a friend of Sarara and spinal cord patient herself, started a GoFundMe that raised over US$25,000 for Pius’ journey of healing. The donations covered the travel costs for a highly trained physical therapist and nurse from the US to provide Pius with much-needed intensive treatment. They were assisted by Pius’ friend Dominic, and their care was pivotal in his path of recovery.
FOLLOWING HIS NORTH STAR
For as long as he can remember, Pius had his heart set on pursuing a career in wildlife guiding, and he always knew he'd end up unveiling the beauty of Northern Kenya to visitors from all over the world.
“Before my studies, I did administrative work for two years, but it didn’t speak to me, and nature was calling. There were many books in the office though, and I kept reading about animals, trees, plants, birds, and insects. I read as many of them as I could!”
At the same time, he also had the opportunity to spend time with tour guides, and leapt at the chance to gain informal experience in this field. The next step was enrolling as a student for tertiary education, and with his love for nature and the bush as driving forces, he graduated in 2024 with a certificate in tour guiding and travel operations. Looking forward, he plans to keep studying, saying that he always has books around him and loves reading and learning more.
STEERING THE WAY
Another highlight in his ongoing story of growth is a rite of passage for most adolescents may take for granted – but for Pius, getting his driver’s license was a life-changing moment. Against the backdrop of his initial prognosis, it’s nothing short of a miracle that he’s now driving out into the wilderness. “It’s a feeling that’s beyond explanation, and such a big step in my life,” he says.
Apart from this feeling of accomplishment, the ability to drive independently further opens a world in which he can fulfil his passions and purpose in life. “I love guiding and there’s always something interesting to see and show to Sarara’s guests in this beautiful landscape. Around every corner, there are so many interesting facts to share, and some new experience awaits. “From small things like termites, to birds like the social weavers, which are my favourite of all. They’re so clever and always build their nests on the south-facing side of trees to protect them from wind, and to get the most heat from the sun.”
Listening to Pius marvel at how weavers have adjusted to conditions to ensure that they still thrive, it’s clear how, just like he embodies the bravery and strength of lions and elephants, he also mirrors the adaptability of these beloved birds.
INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS
If Pius had to give one piece of advice to Samburu children starting out with their schooling, it would be: “Never forget where you come from.” While life will always be filled with change, he says the key is to have balance and hold on to your culture. “It’s the main thing that brings together society, and we can’t do anything without it.”
He aims to help change mindsets to ensure that all children from Namunyak’s community can take up the opportunity to go to school and broaden their knowledge, minds, and prospects. “We’re becoming known as a home for wildlife conservation, and I believe we’re also becoming a place of change. The younger generation is getting the chance to go to our Nomadic Montessori Schools, which is a very important first step. Once they move to higher levels of education, they can return to the community and start to change lives. One way is to become conservationists, and work as Field Guides, like I’m doing.”
A beaming Pius today
INSPIRED BY NATURE
“I hope my story will motivate others – not just to overcome physical hardships like severe spine injuries, but also to make the impossible possible,” says Pius, and adds that he realised everything in life starts in your mind. “If you set your mind to something, it can be done.”
A lion is brave, an elephant is strong, a weaver is adaptable…
“No situation is permanent. Just be strong. You’re stronger than you think!”
– Pius Lenakukuya
Photos by Thige Njuguna and Nyuso Za Nairobi.
Recovery photos and videos by Katie Rowe and Becky Hawkins.