Kambua Remembers Her Family's Struggles After Father Lost His Sight

A Journey Through Adversity

Kambua, a gospel singer and television host, has opened up about one of the most challenging periods in her life. She shared how her family's financial struggles began after her father, a professor at the University of Nairobi, lost his sight. This event drastically changed their lives and nearly disrupted her education.

Kambua recalled missing family visits at school because her mother became her father's full-time caregiver. The emotional toll of these circumstances was immense, but she found strength in unexpected places. She credited her headmistress for allowing her to complete high school despite unpaid fees, saying she finished her education through God’s provision.

During an interview with JCC Lady Bishop Kathy Kiuna on Women Without Limits, Kambua spoke about how her father's blindness plunged the family into financial hardship and nearly derailed her education. She explained that her father started experiencing serious health complications when she was finishing Standard Eight, and his condition worsened after she joined high school.

"My father had very serious health challenges from the time I was finishing Standard Eight. Getting into high school is when my dad started getting really sick. Somewhere in high school, my dad went totally blind," she recalled.

Her father, who was a professor at the University of Nairobi, depended heavily on his eyesight for his work. Losing his vision meant he could no longer teach or secure consultancy contracts that relied on reading and research. "As a professor at the University of Nairobi, his eyes were everything. That meant he couldn't work or get the contracts he was getting because they all relied on him reading and teaching."

She described the moment doctors told her father he would have to adjust to life as a blind person by learning Braille as heartbreaking for the entire family. "I remember the years when my dad was told, 'You are a blind man. You need to adjust to life like this. Learn how to write Braille.' It was devastating for him."

Financial Struggles and Sacrifices

As her father's health deteriorated, Kambua said the family's financial situation worsened, affecting even the simple tradition of visiting her at boarding school. She recalled how her parents initially attended visiting days before circumstances changed. "On visiting day, you're really looking forward to your family coming to see you. We started off really well, and then somewhere along the way it was only my mom who could come."

Eventually, even her mother was unable to visit because she had become her father's primary caregiver. "Somewhere along the way my mum couldn't come because she was the primary caregiver. The finances had completely dwindled." Kambua remembered one visiting day when no family member managed to visit her. Later that week, her elder brother managed to come after the family raised a little money. "It was the best they could do in that moment."

By the time she was completing high school, Kambua said the family had accumulated huge debts, making it difficult to pay school fees. She revealed that her brothers frequently dropped out of school because of financial constraints. According to Kambua, her headmistress stepped in and allowed her to complete her studies despite the unpaid fees. "My headmistress told my dad, 'Kambua is one of my best students. She cannot be home because of school fees. Let her come and finish. You and I will sort this thing out later.'"

The singer credited her successful completion of high school to God's provision. "That's how I finished school, miraculously. It was literally God's provision."

A Love Story Begins Online

In other news, Kambua shared details about her unexpected romance that began in her Facebook inbox. Her candid discussion on Lady Bishop Kathy Kiuna's show reveals how a series of messages transformed into a love story, capturing the hearts of her fans.

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