“We Thought Our Mother Had Died”: Kenyans Share Painful Childhood Traumas After Witnessing Parents Fighting

Kenyans on social media have opened up about the painful memories of growing up in homes filled with violence, revealing how many were forced to face the world each day while carrying invisible scars.

It all began with one viral post that read:

“Do you remember how you used to go to school and act like everything is normal despite your parents almost killing each other?”

The question struck a nerve, triggering a wave of confessions from people who endured domestic violence as children but were too afraid to speak up.

Across Facebook, X, and TikTok, users shared heart-wrenching stories of chaos, fear, and emotional wounds that still linger decades later.

One TikTok user, Sonia, recalled how her father would brutally assault her mother, often leaving her unconscious.

“My mom alitandikwa hadi akazima the whole night then akamwagiliwa maji. Morning tulikuwa tunampitia hapo tunadhani amepass but hata hatungemguza otherwise unapigwa kichapo cha mbwa. Bado tulikuwa 10 years na hiyo imekuwa childhood trauma,” she wrote.

Sonia said she and her siblings would often wake up to find their mother lying motionless on the floor, fearing she was dead.

Another user, Dorreen Otiende, shared that in her home, it was her mother who was abusive.

“Mimi nasikia watu wakisema baba yao vile alikuwa violent, for us it was my mum. She would wait till people are asleep then start chaos; attacking my dad, insulting him, provoking him to hit her, then go report him to FIDA,” she said.

She recalled how her father would sometimes flee in the middle of the night to escape the violence, leaving her and her siblings to deal with their mother’s anger.

“I dreaded going home. If dad wasn’t around and she was angry, we became the punching bag. Here’s the kicker , she was a serious intercessor. Since then, I have this irrational fear of church women, especially prayer warriors,” Dorreen confessed.

Their stories resonated deeply with many Kenyans who admitted they, too, grew up in toxic homes but had never spoken about it.

One Facebook user, Celestine Odiwuor, wrote:

“Crying while reading this. What was wrong with some of our parents? Kwani walienda shule moja? This is the saddest topic on the internet right now.”

Another, Novie Makawala, added:

“I am a victim. The traumas are real. I choose to work on my mental health. I don’t talk to my dad, and I’m okay with it. I can document a whole script.”

While the online conversation was painful, many agreed it was also a form of collective healing, a moment for survivors to finally speak their truth and remind others that domestic violence leaves wounds that last far beyond childhood.