Catherine Syokau was the person I reached out to last year when I was working on a disability-related task. I needed to interview someone who cared for a loved one with a disability or had firsthand experience with the challenges involved. I explained the project to her, making it clear there was no payment—just a conversation to share her experience.
She agreed right away.
She didn’t know me and didn’t ask any questions. She just wanted to help.
Catherine Syokau’s Early Life in Sofia Village
Catherine Syokau comes from the village of Sofia, Yatta Sub-county, in Machakos County. She is a lovely and cheerful young woman who suffered from a rare condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), which means her bones break easily. She had a normal childhood, and her parents loved her despite her disability and the many stigmas related to her condition in the community.
Everything at home was fine until she started preschool. She was the only child with a disability at her preschool, and many times felt invisible because she was short and had no legs. Many kids would stare, not knowing what to say. It was tough, but she was able to go through it. She’s forever grateful for the way she was brought up. Her family loved her and always treated her the same.
Getting to school, though, was hard because her family couldn’t afford a wheelchair. Her grandfather would carry her to and from school every day. She said a wheelchair was considered a luxury in those days.
A Day of Miracles
One day, some missionary sisters visited her home and saw how much Catherine struggled to get around. They gave her a wheelchair. She tells me it was very big for her, but made all the difference.
This was a big miracle and a sure reminder that God always comes through when we are stranded. That changed little Cate’s life during those preschool years.
In 2007, she did well in primary school and went on to Joytown High School, an integrated school in Thika. She joined music and drama groups. Later, she attended Kenyatta University (KU), which is considered one of Kenya’s top universities, to study Media and Communications.
At KU, she met other people with disabilities for the first time. She was surprised by what they could do and by the many kinds of disabilities there were out there. The experience was an eye-opener.
She joined the KU choir, which made her more visible to others, especially because of her disability. Soon, they began to notice her leadership skills and qualities, even though she thought of herself as shy. Many encouraged her to take on leadership roles.
She graduated with second-class honours, but like many graduates, she could not find a job after months of hunting for one, even after she had completed an internship at a media company.
Exhausted from job hunting, she chose to focus on disability advocacy and has never looked back. This path felt more aligned because she understood the challenges firsthand. She found a job in communications and fundraising, but it ended shortly after the COVID-19 outbreak.
The following year, she took a bold step and organized her first Christmas event for people with disabilities, which turned out to be a big success. From there, one thing led to another, and she started volunteering her skills and sharing her story, and slowly making her mark.
In 2021, she welcomed her first child. She chuckled as she said, “Best thing ever.”
In 2022, she took another bold step and ran as an independent candidate. She did not win, but told me it might have been the very experience she needed to prepare her for even bigger things in the near future.
She finished fourth in the race, and honestly, for me, that’s big considering what she was up against. She was told she was too young, faced age and disability related discrimination, and many times had issues navigating movement, especially while going to campaign events in places that were not wheelchair accessible.
During our interview, she told me she is focusing on empowering young women to believe in themselves and understand that disability does not define them. She continues to share her message of hope that girls and women with disabilities can live fulfilling lives if they do not give up on themselves.
She is also working on growing her brand, both in Kenya and abroad, to represent persons with disabilities. She continues to travel outside Kenya and recently went to Sri Lanka.
Catherine Syokau now pursues amplifying the voices of persons with disabilities and advancing inclusion
Last April, she received a leadership award from Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). That same year, she joined a civic leadership program, earned a certification, and achieved several notable achievements.
At the end of 2025, she worked with the Light for the World organization to provide training on disability awareness and inclusion.
See also: Beauty for Ashes: Terry Gobanga’s Story
For collaborations, feel free to connect with Catherine @Cate Syokau on Facebook.
Cate Syokau
Catherine Syokau is a Communications and Fundraising Professional and disability advocate. She is passionate about amplifying the voices of persons with disabilities and advancing inclusion. Drawing from lived experience, she works to challenge stigma, influence policy conversations, and empower girls and women with disabilities at home and abroad.
