BONIFACE MWANGI OPENS UP ABOUT GRIEF, BETRAYAL, AND MULTIPLE HOSPITALISATION

Kenyan activist and photojournalist Boniface Mwangi has opened up on grief, betrayal, and the emotional toll of his activism over the past year. 

Mwangi described how 2024 has brought him some of the most challenging moments of his life, including the loss of friendships, businesses, and comrades, as well as battles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and harassment. “Grief. Unending grief. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. How do you cope?” Mwangi began.

“At the beginning of the year, I lost important friendships because of betrayal. Deep, murderous betrayal. I lost two businesses that I had invested in heavily, along with the relationships that came with them. I lost comrades during street protests. I attended more funerals than ever before in my life and can still smell the stench of bodies rotting at City Mortuary.” 

Mwangi’s talked about the loss of a court case, the end of an important partnership, and the emotional strain of laying off 14 employees. Adding to the pain, he shared how his left arm was injured during the June protests and re-injured just last week during an attempted abduction by police. “The emotional and physical toll of my body living in a continuous state of alertness because of abductions and stress is too much,” he said. 

“If it’s not state intimidation, it’s paid trolls on X who are on retainer to attack me almost every day.” The activist spoke of the impact on his health, having been hospitalised multiple times this year. The doctors have not been able to diagnose any specific illness, advising that the only cure is rest.

“How do you rest when calls and messages of people needing help don’t stop, even when you’re going through the worst?” He questioned. “Sometimes I ask God, did all the bad things that happened this year have to happen consecutively? It’s just too much. I need more grace, rest, and good health. Happy new month,” he concluded.