Rev-Dr Penny Njoroge is a mental health expert who has undergone so much pain but didn’t allow it stop what she loved most, education!
Penny was born in Muranga as a firstborn among 11 kids. By then educating a girl child was a taboo according to her grandfather’s opinion. Her mum had been married off to her dad when it was noted that her brother was secretly educating her. The dad was schooling with her mum’s brother so the uncle saved the sister by introducing his educated friend who ended up as Penny’s dad.
Penny got the passion for education from her parents who used to read the bible. On insisting to go to school, the grandfather chased them from home and disinherited the dad. The dad loved Penny so much hence he sacrificed everything and relocated to Nairobi with his family as he was a forester. Being a bright child, Penny desired to pursue medicine someday but life was so hard in Nairobi.
She did her best and even went to Alliance Girls though she was on and off from school due to unpaid fees. Fortunately, she finished high school and did well but she couldn’t continue with her education. She started working and serving in big places like NCCK earning good money. Later, she met her husband and even in courtship, he told her to close her accounts and divert her earnings into his account.
Because of love and wanting to be submissive, she did as told but that was her greatest mistake. He managed all her money and would give her whatever she asked for if he felt like it but not when she was in need. She swallowed it all wanting to build a future for her 3 kids. At some point, he even became physically violent but she lacked the courage to speak up due to the high positions she worked in.
She even tried suicide twice but on thinking it over, she realised it wasn’t worth it. After 30 years of perseverance in marriage, she decided to leave. By then 2 of her kids were in the US and she decided to join them despite being penniless. She travelled and it wasn’t easy in a new country yet financially unstable. Luckily she had also become a Chaplin hence whatever she earned helped. At 56, she went back to school and at 76 Penny had a PhD in Psychiatry.
Also, she is a proud grandmother and a survivor of depression. She has forgiven her husband and states that people should try and use their brains even when they are in love to avoid regrets. Penny also says that people may hurt you but what matters is how you react to the pain.
by: Kanini