Lillian Nganga has revealed a painful chapter of her life, her experience in a toxic and violent relationship.
In a candid TikTok video, Lillian, former Machakos First Lady, businesswoman, and author, shared that a recent hospital visit triggered memories she had long buried.
"I was not to do this video, but here I am," she began. "My baby and I were sick, so we went to the hospital. My eye was swollen, and the doctor asked if someone had hit me. I said no, but he proceeded to ask about domestic violence."
That simple question brought back a chilling memory, one she had once tried to ignore.
Lillian recounted a disturbing incident where her then-boyfriend assaulted her over a mere assumption.
"I remembered a time in my life when I had a boyfriend who was violent. We were in Westlands, and he concluded that someone was looking at me, and I was looking at them. So he hit me," she revealed.
Shocked and unprepared for such aggression, her instinct was to fight back.
"I was so shocked that he did that, and so I hit him back. And I was like, who does he think he is?" she shared.
Despite this blatant act of violence, she did not leave the relationship. Instead, she convinced herself it was a one-time thing.
"However, the fight did not escalate further, but hatukuachana. Mapenzi ilikuwa imechacha, he was the love of my life, and we continued with a toxic relationship," she admitted.
Like many victims of domestic abuse, Lillian found herself trapped in a cycle of love, fear, and denial. Even when the violence left her injured, she made excuses for her abuser.
"Sometimes I had to call in sick for work and went to the hospital. The doctor asked me if somebody had hit me. I lied that I fell down the stairs, and the doctor told me I was lying," she recalled.
Looking back, she now sees how unhealthy and dangerous the situation was.
"At my age, I would not allow anything like that to happen to me. I guess you need to experience such things to learn from your mistakes," she reflected.
Lillian used her experience to send a message to those currently in abusive relationships. She acknowledged that while family and friends may urge victims to leave, the decision is ultimately personal.
"I am thinking of people who have a violent partner, and friends, family are asking them to leave the relationship, but they are not ready yet. I would advise them to stay until they get clarity, and you will leave at 7 am, not even 8 am," she advised.
She assured victims that with time, they would look back and realise they deserved better.
"Right now, I am laughing just thinking of that time because it’s a distant memory that has no emotional attachment," she said.
Today, Lillian is married to renowned musician Juliani, and the two share a son. However, recent rumours have surfaced about their alleged separation—speculation she has neither confirmed nor denied.
Before Juliani, she was in a high-profile relationship with former Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, now the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection. Their dramatic breakup in 2021 dominated headlines for months.
Though Lillian did not name her abusive ex, her story has sparked an outpouring of reactions online, with many applauding her for speaking out.
Her message: no one should endure abuse in the name of love.
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