Elizabeth Wanjiru, widely recognized by her stage name Charity Mwamba or simply “Charity”, is the iconic lead actress in Kenya’s long-running Citizen TV drama series Mother-in-Law, which premiered in 2008.
In the show, she portrays a feisty, no-nonsense septuagenarian matriarch who clashes with her daughters-in-law while fiercely protecting her family.
The series, set in a middle-class Kenyan household, explores themes of generational conflicts, marital tensions, and everyday family dynamics. Wanjiru, now in her late 70s, brings a raw authenticity to the role, drawing from her own life’s hardships, including a tumultuous marriage.
Besides being actress she was married to Shem Bageine, a Ugandan national and former Minister for East African Affairs.
They met while studying at the University of Nairobi, married when she was 26, and shared 13 years together before separating in 1981 when she was in her mid-40s.
The separation stemmed from a deeply abusive marriage marked by frequent physical violence from Bageine. Wanjiru often sought refuge at local police stations in Loresho, Kenya, and even jumped over gates to escape beatings, fearing for her life and her children’s safety amid threats of murder.
Disagreements over his political ambitions also contributed to the rift. Following the split, Bageine relocated to Uganda with their three children, leaving Wanjiru isolated without custody or regular contact—though she has seen them at least once since.
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