Boniface Mwangi reflects on quiet, heavy reality of grief in adulthood

Activist Boniface Mwangi has spoken about the heavy and unpredictable nature of grief in adulthood.

In a statement shared via his X account on Friday, January 23, 2026, he described how grief does not always arrive all at once and how it goes beyond tears, weighing heavily on the heart.

Mwangi reflected on how the death of someone close can bring back memories of past losses, forcing people to confront their own mortality. He explained that even a simple call from a relative who rarely reaches out can spark worry and anxiety, as the mind immediately asks: Who has died? Such moments make people mourn not only the loss of loved ones but also missed opportunities, betrayals, and broken relationships that linger quietly in life.

“Grief in adulthood is so difficult. It isn’t always instantaneous; it comes and goes. It isn’t just tears, but a heavy, hurting heart. A new death often throws you back to past ones. Burying an agemate makes you confront your own mortality. When a relative who rarely calls suddenly reaches out, your heart skips a beat: Who died? You mourn departed family and friends, missed opportunities, betrayals, and broken relationships,” Mwangi stated.

https://x.com/bonifacemwangi/status/2014541426910970052?s=20

He acknowledged that grief has no formula and cannot e neatly solved. Sometimes, he said, all that can be done is to sit silently with the pain and breathe, allowing oneself to feel the weight of loss. Mwangi urged people to support those who are mourning, even when they do not ask for help, emphasising the importance of presence and compassion.

Mwangi encouraged those navigating sorrow to believe that the difficult season will pass. He reassured that, over time, the pain will ease, and the love and support of family, friends, and community can provide much-needed comfort during times of mourning.

“Grief is ugly because it has no formula. Sometimes all you can do is breathe and sit silently in your pain. May the love of those around you comfort you in your sorrow. Be there for those who mourn they need you even when they don’t say it. If you’re grieving, it shall be well; believe it, this season too shall pass,” he added.

The statement came a day after Mwangi condoled with US-based couple Wambui Ndirangu and her husband, who lost their three children in a tragic road accident while visiting Kenya.

Referencing a social media post that detailed the family’s loss, Mwangi on Thursday, January 22, 2026, described the incident as heartbreaking and deeply troubling.

The children, Emmanuel Nyori DeLeon (13), Njeri (16), and young Kairu (6), lost their lives in the accident on January 4, 2026, during what was meant to be a joyful Christmas holiday visit to Kenya.