Social media personality Wanja Nyarari has opened up about her painful childhood, revealing how feelings of rejection at home pushed her into marriage at the age of 18.
Speaking candidly with local YouTubers about her upbringing, Wanja shared that the sense of rejection began the day she was born.
According to her, her mother had hoped for a baby boy, and that disappointment marked the moment she was born a baby girl instead of a boy.
She revealed that it was her grandmother who played a central role in her early life, from delivering her to cutting her umbilical cord and even giving her a name. However, growing up in that environment proved difficult.
Wanja also recounted how resentment from a sibling gradually spread within the extended family, affecting how she was treated by aunts and uncles as well.
“Mimi wakati nilizaliwa mamangu alikuwa anataka kijana, so roho ya rejection ilianza hapo na nyanya yangu ndio aliye mzalisha na hata kitovu changu kilikatwa na nyanyangu na yeye ndio pia akanipa jina,” Wanja narrated.
“Kwa hivyo kuanza kukuwa kwa hiyo familia na yule mtoto wa mamangu aliyekuwa ananichukia,so hiyo chuki ikazidi na ikazidi, ikaenda kwa mashangazi, ikaenda kwa wajomba.“
Early marriage
Additionally, Wanja said that as she grew older, she became increasingly aware that she was not fully accepted. While many young people in similar situations threaten to run away from home, she says her escape took a different turn.
“Mbaka wakati nilisha jijua nikaona hawa watu hawanipendi, so vile mtu husema ‘nitatoroka nyumbani’ badala ya mimi nitoroke nikuwe chokora, nilitoroka nikawenda nikakuwa bibi ya mtu nikiwa na miaka kumi na nane,” she narrated.
She further explained that the marriage was formal and recognised, as she was legally an adult with an ID. Her partner insisted they hold a proper church wedding because his family were spiritual leaders and actively served in church leadership.
The couple eventually walked down the aisle in an official ceremony.
“Lakini huyo mtu akasema lazima tufanye harusi huku kwetu ni kwa spiritual leaders, at 18 years na niko na ID, ilikuwa official kwa sababu the family was very spiritual, and they were in the leadership of the church, and we walked down the aisle,” Wanja said.
