Nairobi: 13-Year-Old Cerebral Palsy Boy Nominated For Mr Neurodiversity Beauty Pageant

• Bahati, a 13-year-old boy from Nairobi, has been nominated for the Mr Neurodiversity beauty pageant
• The youngster was born healthy, but his life was altered at the age of six when he contracted meningitis and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP)
• Bahati's mother Carol Joseph Emoyo showered praises on him, referring to him as an inspiration to her and many others

Bahati, a 13-year-old boy from Nairobi, has been nominated for the Mr Neurodiversity beauty pageant, a contest that celebrates people with neurological differences.

Bahati was born healthy and bubbly, but at six months old, he contracted meningitis and spent two weeks in intensive care.

Carol's hubby died of heartbreak

He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP), a condition that affects movement, posture, and coordination.

Bahati’s mother Carol Joseph Emoyo told TUKO.co.ke that she was in denial for the first three years of his life and struggled to cope with his disability.

"He lost everything from head control, sense of touch, and hearing, but reality soon hit that this was now our life," she said.

Sadly, her husband struggled to accept their son’s condition and died in 2021 a heartbroken man.

Bahati is princely

With her partner gone, Carol was forced to play the double role of mother and father to the young Bahati and herself.

The mother expressed her pride in Bahati’s nomination and hoped it would inspire others with CP and other disabilities.

“Bahati is a prince by birth, and he dreams of becoming someone. He has overcome many challenges and is always smiling and happy," she praised.

She added that the youngster was an inspiration to her and many others and that she hoped he would win the pageant.

What is Mr Neurodiversity pageant?

Apart from raising her son, Carol has been supporting other families with children living with neurological conditions.

The Mr Neurodiversity pageant is an initiative of the Neurodiversity Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to promote awareness, acceptance, and inclusion of people with neurological differences.

These conditions include autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and Cerebral Palsy.

The pageant will be held online on February 14, 2024, and the winner will receive a cash prize and a scholarship.

Shujaa's long-awaited holiday

In an earlier story, Shujaa, a boy with cerebral palsy, celebrated his fourth birthday on Mashujaa Day, October 20, 2023.

His mother, Edinah Nyamanya, is a single mum who quit her job to take care of him and started baking from home.

Shujaa's mum said they had been dreaming of enjoying a vacation, and she had saved up KSh 25,000 for it.

After her story went viral, Expeditions Maasai Safaris offered the two a free three-day, all-inclusive holiday to Mombasa.