Elizabeth Wanjiru, best known to Kenyans as Charity Mwamba from the long-running TV drama Mother-in-Law, has lived a life filled with both triumph and heartbreak. Behind the screen persona adored by many lies a deeply personal story of loss, endurance, and unshakable faith.
Her pain began decades ago when her marriage to a Ugandan politician collapsed. The cracks widened after Idi Amin rose to power in Uganda, straining their family ties. The final rupture came when President Museveni summoned her husband back to Uganda. He left—and took their three children with him.
Wanjiru was left behind, alone and heartbroken. Her children have visited her only once in 30 years, though they maintain occasional phone contact. Despite this estrangement, she carries no bitterness. Instead, she holds onto hope and prayer.
“I live alone as if I had no children of my own,” she reflects. “I only pray that they may be happy… they know I am open and welcoming.”
Her struggles didn’t end there. Within a decade, she lost 10 of her 12 siblings, many under circumstances she still finds difficult to comprehend. The wave of bereavement left her emotionally and physically isolated.
Even her home became a battleground. After her husband attempted to evict her and sold their matrimonial house, she took the fight to court. For over 30 years, she battled in the justice system before finally winning the case. Yet, she admits that the victory felt incomplete—the ruling was never fully enforced, and reimbursement never came.
Through it all, Wanjiru never gave up on her passions. Her acting journey, which began at Alliance Girls High School, blossomed into a career that saw her become a household name in Kenya. Now at 77, she lives quietly, sustained by her faith, her memories, and the arts that gave her a voice.
Her story is a reminder that life’s greatest challenges do not define us—but how we endure them does. For Elizabeth Wanjiru, resilience has been her greatest role of all.
