Social media influencer Wanja Nyarari has shared a deeply emotional account of her mother’s final moments, revealing a long and painful battle with illness that lasted over four decades.
In a heartfelt post shared on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Wanja disclosed that her mother, Nancy Wanjiku Wanja, passed away on January 14, 2026, at 11:30 a.m., after enduring 42 years of bronchitis-related complications.
Wanja described her late mother as her “Iron Lady”, noting that she had spent her entire life watching her fight, endure pain, and survive quietly.
“A journey of 42 years of pain from bronchitis came to an end on January 14, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. And in my 38 years of life, I watched her fight, endure, and survive, Nancy Wanjiku Wanja, my iron lady,” Wanja wrote.
She further disclosed that her mother lived under her care, first relying on an oxygen machine and later spending a month on life support.
“The last three years were especially hard, living quietly with my Iron Lady in my house, first on an oxygen machine, and then spending one month on life support,” she said.
“Today, God rested her from pain and turmoil.”
Choosing privacy
According to Wanja, her mother made one clear request throughout her illness, and that she did not want visitors, adding that only three close friends were allowed to see her, as she wanted her suffering to remain private.
“Her life was private. Her battles were private. Behind every smile you see, real wars are fought silently. She made one clear request: she did not want visitors, only three close friends, and she did not want anybody to see her suffer,” she disclosed.
“Honouring her wish came at a cost. It brought misunderstanding and backlash from family and extended family who could not understand. But when someone is sick, you go by the wish, dignity, and privacy of the patient.”
In addition, she said the burden of caregiving was carried quietly with the help of her aunt, her children, and herself, adding that she relocated to where her mother insisted on staying and built a house there to ensure she received proper care.
“For the last three years, that burden was carried quietly, together with my aunt, Aunt Alice, the famous one I took with me to Germany, my children, and myself. We carried it when no one else could see it,” Wanja said.
“Her sickness rearranged my life completely. She refused to move with me to our farm and insisted on remaining at our rural home in Kangemi. To make her comfortable and to be able to care for her properly, I had to build a house there.”
“I relocated my life to Kangemi for the last three years. I moved there with my children. My GenZ son had to remain behind to take care of our other home. That separation is how we survived, they are so pained.”
Final moments
The social media influencer further added that during her mother’s final month on life support at Kenyatta National Hospital Prime Care Centre, the request remained the same, no visitors.
“During this one month on life support, it remained the same: “I don’t want visitors. I don’t want anybody to see me suffer.” Kenyatta National Hospital Prime Care Centre has been my home since December 12th,” she added.
As she mourns her loss, Wanja expresses peace in knowing she did everything she could.
“This strong woman raised me like a fighter with my granny, and she fought her own battles with dignity until the very end. Today, I thank God. I did my part. I know I did my best, “Wanja stated.
