Leah Wanjiku: Turning Unimaginable Loss into Lifelong Advocacy By Charles Kinyua, Executive Director – RNF
In the world of Disability advocacy, true strength is often forged in the fires of unimaginable adversity. For Leah Wanjiku; a mother, business lady, and fierce advocate for children with disabilities; resilience isn’t just a word; it is a lived reality. Her journey of love, loss, and unyielding dedication has rightfully earned her the title of our RNF Unstoppable Woman.
The Journey of a Young Caregiver
Leah’s initiation into the world of caregiving began earlier than most. At just 20 years old, she gave birth to her daughter. The joy of new motherhood, however, was immediately met with a daunting reality.
“The moment I realized she had a medical condition is just the moment I gave birth to her,”Leah recalls.
“The moment I gave birth to her was the exact moment I realized she had a medical condition,” Leah recalls.
Her daughter was born with congenital hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by the build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Within her first three months of life, the newborn had to undergo three separate surgeries at Kijabe Hospital to insert and adjust shunts for fluid drainage. After three grueling months in the hospital, doctors finally stabilized her condition, and Leah was able to take her baby home.
Raising a child with hydrocephalus meant navigating delayed milestones, low vision, and speech difficulties. Like many caregivers, Leah became her daughter’s primary advocate, knocking on doors to find the right educational fit.
After an initial attempt at the Thika School for the Visually Impaired at age four proved too difficult for her daughter to cope with, Leah eventually found a welcoming environment at Kilimani Primary School. Despite routine hospital visits and managing sudden convulsions, Leah’s daughter grew into a beautiful teenager, giving Leah the space to also welcome a son, Trevor Njoroge, into their family.
A Season of Unimaginable Heartbreak
In February 2025, Leah’s world was shattered. Her 13-year-old daughter, who had seemingly stabilized, suddenly began vomiting blood. Despite rushing her to the hospital and getting immediate medical attention, she tragically passed away.
“It was so unfortunate that by the time I got help, she stopped responding, and that’s how we lost her,” Leah shares, recounting the devastating moment.
The grief was compounding. Just three months later, Leah’s mother, a crucial pillar of support in her life, fell severely ill. After being admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital for three weeks and undergoing dialysis for kidney and liver complications, Leah’s mother also passed away.
Losing the child she had dedicated her life to caring for, followed immediately by the mother who had held her hand through it all, was an earth-shattering blow.
“It took us as a shock,” Leah admits. “I had stopped everything I was doing because of my daughter. That moment changed who I was and how I perceived life.”
Turning Pain into Purpose
Many would have retreated entirely after such back-to-back tragedies, but Leah’s spirit proved unstoppable. Realizing she was struggling, she actively sought help to rebuild her life, working through her grief with the help of a counselor, Elver, the inhouse RNF Counselor & Therapist.
Instead of stepping away from the community of caregivers her life had revolved, Leah dove deeper into it. She channeled her maternal love and years of caregiving expertise into advocacy. Today, she works closely with the us (RNF) as a Caregiver Coordinator and partners with organizations like Smile for Neurodiversityto mentor other caregivers.
Whether she is speaking on radio stations, appearing on television, or advocating in places of worship and public spaces, Leah ensures that the voices of children with disabilities are heard.
A Message to Fellow Caregivers
As the RNF Unstoppable Woman, Leah’s primary mission now is to ensure no caregiver walks their path alone. She urges parents and guardians of children with disabilities to find community and prioritize their own well-being.
“Let’s keep pushing. It’s never easy, but as a caregiver, we are as important as our children and our care recipients. Let’s take care of ourselves in matters of mental health. Let’s not lose it in the world, because there is so much chaos. At least find a support group; one or two; so you don’t find yourself alone.”
Leah stands as a testament to the power of a mother’s love. She is a voice for the voiceless, the legs for those who cannot walk, and an unstoppable force for inclusion in Kenya. Her story reminds us that while we cannot always control the tragedies that strike us, we can choose how we rise from them.
