Prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has made a comeback on social media with a revelation that he contemplated suicide.
According to Mwangi, he could not continue watching helplessly the deadly violence against innocent Kenyans during the wave of anti-government protests that rocked the nation.
Mwangi, who is also a photojournalist turned activist, sincerely expressed his sorrow on X where he narrated how the abductions and deaths from the protests took a toll on him.
However, his family helped him bounce back by seeking professional help, to take a health break and focus on his mental wellness and to re-centre his purpose of seeking for better governance.
In addition, the Human Rights Activist claimed that he refused to go to State House to cut a deal with President William Ruto during the protests, alleging that the money they would have offered as a bribe has been paid to government bloggers to sully his reputation.
He continued to say that since June 2024, he has been arrested three times, and been charged and released by the courts twice which he thinks is tantamount to abuse of the court process.
“My children are traumatized by the possibility of their dad getting abducted or murdered,” he said.
Boniface Mwangi’s statement which has caught many netizens attention states as follows;
“𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐧
On August 3, 2024, I found myself in a very dark place and considered taking my own life. A few days earlier, l had signed my will, then rang or texted a few people. It was my farewell. I wanted to die. Exit this world for good.
There was simply too much pain, grief, and trauma in my life that I couldn’t bear it any longer. I couldn’t continue watching helplessly as our country was sucked into a sickening, deadly vortex of State-sanctioned violence, targeting innocent Kenyans.
In writing this now, I am aware that it might attract ridicule and trolling from the usual suspects, but I’m a firm believer in telling your story.
Although I wanted to commit suicide, my family and friends threw a ring of love and empathy around me that made me reconsider.
They forced me to seek professional help, and to take a health break to focus on my mental wellness. That helped to re-center me. I have a fresh and new lease of life now, and truly appreciate the overwhelming love and support that was extended to me and my family during that time when the darkness threatened to overcome us.
Even though I don’t owe anyone an explanation, my supporters deserve at least an update, and perhaps elaboration of the circumstances that continue to assail many of those who put their lives on the line fighting for the betterment of this country.”
Written by Doris Njoki
