Karibu Magazine July 2022 (updated)

SPECIAL FEATURE
Njeri wa Migwi-Mwangi
FOUNDER - USIKIMYE
Njeri wa Migwi-Mwangi is a Kenyan
activist who in recent years, has
been a reckoning force behind the
creation of refuge and a safe space
for souls at the end of their tether.
She has also been a very vocal force
against femicide, gender-based violence,
and police brutality, not forgetting
the oppression of vulnerable
communities. Njeri was raised by a
single father. Njeri often accentuates
him as the basis of her feminism. In
her eyes, he is the first feminist she
ever looked up to. Most solutions
tend to be executed effectively only
after frustration, anger, and bitterness
have reached the heavens. But
not with Njeri wa Migwi-Mwangi.
She thinks and works differently.
In Swahili, Usikimye means do not
remain silent. It epitomizes standing
out and speaking up. Usikimye
is run as a non-profit organization
that campaigns against domestic
violence and sexual abuse of genders.
It is a self-funded organization
that works toward providing abused
individuals with a second chance in
surviving the world. According to
Njeri, Stella her affiliate is a person
who complements her empathetic
temperament. Stella is the more
logical and rational half of the duo
and thus, always behind the scenes
checking the organization’s logistics
of activities.
Njeri counsels all manner of people
ceaselessly; she listens to them endlessly;
she holds their hands shamelessly
and, she encourages them
generously. Anyone with Njeri in
their corner knows they have a force
to reckon with.
When she is not being extraordinary
and saving souls out there, Njeri is
an ordinary mom to nine children.
These include five human children
and four fur babies. Njeri loves cats
with all her soul, and her love for her
felines has made her isolate herself
from some friends who struggled to
respect her fur babies. As a mother,
Njeri is a friend to all her children.
And even though she jokes, plays,
and cuddles her children, make no
mistake - she can be very stern too.
She strives to provide her kids with
strict life lessons as well as teachings
that give them guidance. Njeri
does not believe in caning children,
an ethic she took from her gentle
father. When any of her children
makes a mistake, she sits them
down and talks to them. Later, the
children are given an opportunity to
sit down and write an apology letter.
In the letter, they must admit their
mistake and how they are going to
improve.
On the outside, because of the job
she does it is easy for people to
forget that she is human too. On the
inside, however, Njeri is a sensitive
soul. Whenever you are around her,
be sure that you shall laugh. Yet
Njeri will, at the flick of a switch,
fight fiercely for her friends and
those that she values.
Phone: 0800-000-999
(GBV Emergency)
Mobile: 0718-158-400
(administrative contact)
Email: info@usikimye.org
Website: www.usikimye.org
5TH EDITION | JULY 2022
25