Jehovah’s Witnesses do not have a Braille printing press in Kenya. Bible volumes in Braille are printed in the United States, but most of the other Bible-based publications are produced in South Africa.
Noah Munyao, the spokesperson of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kenya, says, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been producing Bible-based literature in Braille since the early 1900s. Currently, the organisation has Braille publications available in more than 50 languages.
“When one of Jehovah’s Witnesses meets someone who is blind or visually impaired who may be interested in getting more information, the Witness arranges to send the request to the head office through their congregation,” Munyao says.
Once the request has been received at the head office, it is entered into a digital system. Plans are made for the individual to begin receiving a monthly subscription of periodicals and any other publications available in Braille. The appropriate grade or language is carefully considered. The next action is to ensure delivery wherever the individuals are.
“We have about 30 individuals who are either blind or visually impaired that our organisation cares for in the country,” Munyao says.
Since Jehovah’s Witnesses organise conventions in which many videos are screened, Munyao says incorporation of audio descriptions or narration that explains visual content is done.
This helps the blind to visualise the scenes in the videos that are played without necessarily the need for someone to tell them what is going on.
Some 6,000 conventions will be held around the world as part of the 2023 Exercise Patience convention series.
In Kenya, 35 conventions are planned to be done in different locations, such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Machakos and Embu, and in a variety of languages, including Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kikuyu, Luo, English and Kenyan Sign Language.
Other aids are available to assist the visually impaired: audio recordings of the Bible and Bible-based publications, which are available for download on the website jw.org.
Many of their publications are available as Electronic Braille files that can be downloaded to a note taker that shows the reader Braille notes per line. The JW Library application has been equipped with a feature that enables the visually impaired to enlarge text so they can read the content.
Loss of sight may be gradual, just as Gilbert Kamande’s was, although his was during his childhood. Sometimes, the loss of sight may occur little by little in one’s later life. To help such individuals learn Braille, Munyao says, “Our organisation has produced a book titled 'Learn to Read Braille'.”
Neurosurgeons say the best practice for the brain is reading. The visually impaired and the blind can also benefit from exercising their brains by feeding them knowledge through tactile letters.
“Our organisation has a keen desire to assist all sorts of people, so they can see with their mind's eye how the wisdom found in God’s word can improve the quality of their life, and to be better members of the society,” Munyao says.