Nominated Nyeri MCA Suffering From Vitiligo Talks About The Pain And Shame She Went Through

Vitiligo is a condition in which the pigment is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish patches, often with no clear cause. The patches of skin affected become white and usually have sharp margins. Often the patches begin on areas of skin that are exposed to the sun. It is more noticeable in people with dark skin. Vitiligo may result in psychological stress and according to research, It affects 1% of the world population.

Well, Nominated MCA Elizabeth Njeri popularly known as Wangui Njee is among the people living with Vitiligo. The beautiful woman was diagnosed with the condition when she was in Form 3 at Pangani Girls and this changed her alot. She was depressed and couldn’t accept herself anymore. She lived in denial until in 2013 when she was nominated to the Nyeri county assembly as an MCA.

Read her story below;

“I used to cry myself to sleep. I self-sabotaged myself and was depressed. It started as a light, small blotch on one of my eyelids­, I don’t quite remember which one.

Soon, another one appeared on the back of my neck. I was 13 and in Form Two at Pangani Girls’ Secondary School. I was diagnosed with vitiligo. The dermatologist prescribed an ointment which I had to apply and then sit in the sun. It gave me blisters but seemed to have largely solved that problem.

Soon it began attacking the tips of my fingers too, but the medication was working. I figured it would soon be gone and didn’t give it much thought.

Then, in 2007, the depigmentation returned with a vengeance. The specks were spreading uncontrollably on my face. My hands, too, turned white almost overnight. It just happens; you wake up one morning and find that the patch has grown bigger. I started feeling very uncomfortable.

Then, I was struggling to accept what was happening to my body. I began to withdraw and would remain locked up in the house most of the time. In university, it was hard to make friends and maybe due to my self-sabotage I did not take up job opportunities that presented themselves.

I had to undergo counseling to learn to accept myself. ln 2013 I joined politics in Nyeri and before I knew it I was nominated in the county assembly as an MCA. My family has been very supportive

The motion to create awareness of the condition, which I brought before the Nyeri County Assembly, was passed afew months ago and I now pushing for it to be made into a law. I also reach out to people like me and distribute lotions to them and also raise awareness and to give them hope and love

Like everyone else I must admit I have my bad days and my good days.”

Wangui has since then accepted her self and she is always on the frontline to help people suffering from vitiligo and albinism. In an interview with True Love Magazine, she revealed that three years ago, she started Spotted Initiative campaign to distribute sunscreen to people living with vitiligo across the country and she revealed that she had so far visited 14 counties and hopes to visit more.

A calling into the field of politics changed her life completely.

“I am outspoken about servant leadership and how to fight for disadvantaged people in society.”

She also advised people living with vitiligo to accept the way they are.

“You are not limited by your skin but by your own ability to see the greatness in you. Find what you love and push for it, be persistent and above all else pray.”