How Ruto, Gachagua & Raila Got Their Sign Names – DCP's Interpreter Yvonne Gitonga | Iko Nini 772

🤟 How do you say "Ruto" in sign language? What about Gachagua, Matiang'i, Kalonzo or Baba? Every famous Kenyan gets a sign name, and Yvonne Gitonga shows us how they're made. Yvonne Gitonga (Wairimu) grew up in the Kenya Railways houses on Park Road, Ngara, learned sign language at home with her two deaf cousins, and was interpreting school assemblies by Form 1. She was one of the pioneer train crew on the SGR in 2017, became Kenya Railways' sign language interpreter, translated service charters for ministries, and now interprets for DCP. Today she's running for Ngara Ward MCA on a DCP ticket, and she's sure of one thing: "I'll be the first lady." With Mwaf, Rowbow and Ian, she gets into: 🤟 Why there's no past tense in sign language, and why expression matters more than the hands 🤟 Fake interpreters at government launches, and what an "iko nini" sign looks like 🤟 How deaf Kenyans miss out at airports, banks and Nyayo House 🏚️ The Eastleigh collapse: "I followed all the rules", and why Kenyans should start suing owners, engineers, architects and kanjo 🏘️ Ngara's five big issues: bursaries, jobs, dirty streets, traders without sheds and street kids 🔊 Ngara as the capital of car sound systems, the fading Indian touch, cricket stars and the Railway City plan 🗳️ Why DCP, Gachagua's "70 out of 85" Nairobi target, and her promise to fight for PWD rights at City Hall Should every public office in Kenya have a sign language interpreter? Tell us in the comments 👇 SIGN UP ON LemFi using the IKONINI referral code, click on this link https://referral.lemonade.finance/invite/jmbLoTGSeDjjrCQa9 Iko Nini is a Kenya podcast that covers everything Kenyan entertainment, politics & social issues SUPPORT IKO NINI THROUGH CASHAPP $IKONINI BECOME A MEMBER FOR EARLY ACCESS & EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5h4-WH0LAV4CWs380yM33A/join CHAPTERS 0:00 Coming up 0:47 Meet Yvonne Gitonga, Ngara MCA aspirant 1:39 Raised with two deaf cousins 3:23 Expression is everything 5:15 Interpreting for DCP & her own company 6:20 The constitution & sign language 8:11 Kenyan vs American sign language 8:59 No past tense in sign language 10:30 Sign names: Ruto, Gachagua, Matiang'i, Kalonzo, Baba 12:19 How the deaf keep up with new politicians 13:23 SGR pioneer train crew 15:29 Signing Daddy Owen's "Mbona" 15:43 Do deaf people enjoy music? 16:25 Fake interpreters at government launches 19:50 How do you sign "building collapse"? 20:01 "Iko nini" in sign language 21:07 When a sign means something rude abroad 22:09 Airports & announcements: why hearing matters 23:59 Into politics: her dad the councillor 24:29 "I'll be the first lady" 25:39 Ghetto Radio days 27:09 Flowers for Rowbow 29:03 Growing up in Ngara's railway houses 37:12 Taking the seat 38:44 Ngara's challenges 40:39 The new train line & Railway City's 300 acres 44:45 A woman in politics 46:04 How popular is DCP in Ngara? 47:19 Hot seat: Ngara's five big issues 50:44 Building collapses: holding officials accountable 51:57 "I followed all the rules" 54:26 Sue the owner, the engineers & kanjo 58:16 A disability-friendly Nairobi 59:08 Deaf parents, hearing kids 1:00:20 Banks, screens & interpreters 1:00:59 Upgrading Ngara market 1:05:46 Renovating the railway houses 1:07:16 Ngara: capital of car sound systems 1:10:43 The Indian touch is fading 1:13:13 Talent, cricket & a public playground 1:15:27 Why she ran in the UDA grassroots polls 1:17:13 Can DCP take Nairobi? 1:17:48 Ngara: cricket stars, temples & schools 1:20:15 Mwaf's dilemma: friends want the same seat 1:21:50 Fighting for PWD rights 1:25:01 Her message to Ngara 1:25:46 Welcome to the deaf community & outro