Personal care
Shaving, washing and dressing are difficult to complete alone. Jackson relies on help for parts of his daily routine.
His Condition
Understanding Jackson's Condition
What severe tremors mean beyond the medical terminology.
What Jackson experiences
Since his 2008 road traffic accident, Jackson has lived with rubral tremors — severe, involuntary shaking movements he cannot control. They have been part of his daily life for 18 years.
His records also note walking difficulty, unclear speech and a history of falls. Tasks most people complete without a second thought — holding a cup, writing, dressing — take significant concentration, extra time, or another person's help.
What tremors are
Tremors are repeated, involuntary shaking movements that a person cannot control. For most people they are mild or occasional. For some, including Jackson, tremors become severe enough to interfere with basic daily tasks like eating, writing and walking.
Severe tremors are described as "disabling" when they consistently prevent someone from completing everyday activities independently, rather than being an occasional inconvenience.
How movement control is affected
Voluntary movement relies on precise coordination between the brain and muscles. Severe tremors disrupt that coordination, so even simple, intentional movements — reaching for an object, guiding a pen — become unpredictable and difficult to control.
This is not a matter of effort or willpower. It reflects how Jackson's nervous system currently regulates movement, following the injury he sustained in 2008.
Why severe tremors can be disabling
When tremors are constant and severe, they affect nearly every fine and gross motor task — from holding a utensil to keeping balance while walking. Over time this limits independence and participation in family and community life.
Kenya's National Council for Persons with Disabilities records Jackson's disability as physical, under acquired brain injuries, caused by an accident.
Everyday consequences
Severe tremors turn ordinary tasks into daily challenges.
Using his hands
Reaching for a small object and guiding it into place takes sustained effort, and his hands do not stay still.
Sitting and shifting position
Even changing position on a sofa involves involuntary movement he cannot settle.
Staying steady
His medical records note walking difficulty and a history of falls, alongside speech that is not clear.
Jackson’s documented diagnosis
Medical documentation from Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre describes Jackson as suffering from rubral tremors following a road traffic accident in 2008. It records rubrodentate tremors, a history of falls, walking difficulty and unclear speech — symptoms that have persisted despite optimal medical management. A brain MRI in February 2025, performed because of his altered gait and involuntary tremors, concluded brain atrophy with no evidence of an intracranial space-occupying lesion.
Why DBS is being considered
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a treatment option clinicians consider for severe, disabling tremors that have not responded well to other approaches. It involves implanting a device that delivers targeted electrical stimulation to specific areas of the brain involved in movement control.
After assessing Jackson, his clinical team at Jaslok Hospital recommended Vim/GPi Deep Brain Stimulation with a rechargeable pacemaker and directional leads. DBS may help reduce his disabling tremors and support greater movement control, though outcomes vary between patients.
Important medical note
Medical information on this website is provided for campaign awareness and does not replace professional medical advice.
Treatment decisions are made by qualified clinicians based on a full assessment of Jackson's medical history and current condition. Outcomes vary between patients, and no treatment — including DBS — can guarantee a specific result.