Photo: Courtesy
Esther Wambui, the sister of the late Bishop Allan Kiuna, recently shared a deeply personal and painful account of her childhood experiences growing up with an alcoholic and abusive father. In a candid appearance on the program Woman Without Limits, Wambui opened up about the trauma and hardship her family endured during those formative years.
Wambui recounted how her family’s daily life was marked by fear and uncertainty due to her father’s abusive behavior. “We would take turns praying, hoping our drunk father wouldn’t beat us,” she said, revealing the constant state of anxiety that plagued their home. Her elder brother, Allan Kiuna, took on a protective role in these harrowing times. “Every time we heard him approaching, Allan, being the eldest, would always try to protect us,” she explained. The violence became so severe that their mother would often flee in terror, seeking refuge wherever she could find it.
Their mother’s brother, who lived nearby, was a crucial source of support and safety for the family. Wambui described how her mother would frequently seek shelter at her brother’s house. “My mum had a brother who lived close by, and he always kept his gate open because she could show up at any time,” Wambui recalled. The situation was so dire that even the village dogs were familiar with her mother and would not bark at her during these escapes. Her mother would wait until the lights were off at home before she returned, as the illumination signaled ongoing danger. Upon her return, her father would deny any responsibility for the injuries her mother sustained, leaving her mother to suffer in silence.
Bishop Allan Kiuna, despite his young age, tried to support their mother by urging her to leave the toxic relationship. Wambui remembered her brother’s pleas, “Allan would beg my mum to leave the marriage, but she would always wonder where we would go if she left.” Allan even proposed moving to Nakuru to start afresh by farming, and he offered to delay his education to allow their other brother, Magu, to continue schooling. This level of sacrifice and concern for his siblings highlights Allan’s deep sense of responsibility and care.
Wambui’s experiences shaped her into a resilient individual. She described how she became a fighter, often defending her siblings from bullies, a reflection of the strength she developed in response to the family’s struggles. Her mother’s eventual decision to leave the abusive relationship came after a particularly severe beating in 1976. “My father would beat her and force her to look at herself in the mirror, threatening to ruin her face so that no one would ever love her,” Wambui recounted, vividly recalling the trauma of that day and the dress her mother wore.
Finally, having endured enough, her mother took decisive action. She left her abusive husband and never looked back, leaving behind a home that had become synonymous with pain and suffering. The children, eventually cast out, had to embark on their own search to reunite with their mother.
Esther Wambui’s poignant narrative sheds light on the harsh realities of growing up in an abusive environment and the enduring strength required to overcome such adversities. Her story not only honors the memory of her late brother but also serves as a testament to the resilience and courage of those who endure and rise above their trials.
