Professor George Njoroge grew up in a small village in Kiambu, raised by his herbalist grandmother with no obvious path to greatness. Today he holds over 100 US patents, a first for any African, has discovered drugs that saved thousands from Hepatitis C and progeria, and has just been awarded Sh446 million to crack oesophageal cancer: a disease killing 4,400 Kenyans every year with a 99.3% fatality rate. His story is not just about one man. It is proof that Africa's scientists, given the platform, can change the world, and a promise that someday, every cancer will have an answer.
While society often believes men handle divorce better, studies show that they suffer just as deeply, if not more, from the emotional toll. Men tend to skip the grieving process, are isolated by small support networks, and often bear the blame for the divorce, which leads to feelings of guilt and shame. This emotional burden, combined with financial strains and the loss of identity, takes a severe toll on men’s well-being. Divorce can trigger depression, anxiety, and even serious health conditions, proving that men, too, are vulnerable to the deep scars that divorce leaves behind.
A shovel of red dirt trembles in my hand. My father's funeral. But amidst the grief, a new, sharp pang hits: my little sisters cling to my eldest sister, Sophie, their faces raw with sobs. Sophie, barely an adult herself, struggles to hold back tears, the weight of responsibility etched on her young face.
Men carry so much in silence that even a day meant to honour them often slips by unnoticed. International Men’s Day becomes a quiet reminder that their feelings, responsibilities, struggles, and mental health genuinely matter. This piece reflects on the weight men hold, the stigma they navigate, and why creating softer, safer spaces for them is long overdue.
Professor George Njoroge grew up in a small village in Kiambu, raised by his herbalist grandmother with no obvious path to greatness. Today he holds over 100 US patents, a first for any African, has discovered drugs that saved thousands from Hepatitis C and progeria, and has just been awarded Sh446 million to crack oesophageal cancer: a disease killing 4,400 Kenyans every year with a 99.3% fatality rate. His story is not just about one man. It is proof that Africa's scientists, given the platform, can change the world, and a promise that someday, every cancer will have an answer.
Some people walk into rooms and simply exist, as if that alone is enough. They don’t rehearse their worth. They don’t negotiate their presence. They just sit there, fully convinced they belong.
But some of us, every opportunity feels like a test. Every relationship feels like an assignment. And somewhere in the back of our minds, there’s always that question: “Did I actually earn this, or did I just slip through by mistake?”
Because growing up, worth wasn’t something you had, it was something you proved. Over and over again. Preferably with results. Good ones.
So now, even in rooms we fought to enter, we hesitate. Not because we don’t belong, but because no one ever taught us that belonging didn’t need to be earned in the first place.
Healing is not linear. This reflective piece explores the emotional reality of heartbreak, loss, and moving on, reminding us that healing takes time, patience, and self-compassion.
herapy is not a last resort or a sign of weakness. Discover what therapy really means, what to expect from the process, and how Convo e-Therapy provides safe, confidential online support at your pace.