Q&A Monday: Wanjiru Kihusa

Wanjiru Kihusa is a family blogger at wanjirukihusa.com and is the founder and director of Still A Mum, a non-profit that supports women and families dealing with pregnancy and infant loss. The non profit’s blog stillamum.com has been nominated for the 2016 Kenyan Blog Awards.

She is a lover of all things cake and when she is not reading or writing she is gardening. She is also a Social Media enthusiast.

1. Your first phone?

I am a last born which means I have had my fair share of hand me downs. My sister lent me her Samsung – can’t remember the model but it had a pink screen that was so small you almost had to close one to read texts. But my first new phone (not a hand me down) was a Nokia 2300. It was awesome – polyphonic ringtones and all.

2. Between Facebook and Twitter, which one do you prefer? Why?

I like them in equal measure. Each has its use. Facebook allows sharing of blog posts and discussions on certain issues. Twitter on the other hand is amazing for real time conversations.

3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

That’s always a tough question. It’s hard to speak of the future. 3 years ago I was a customer service manager in a tech firm and now I’m running Still A Mum. Life has surprised me and I think it will continue to do so. Because of that I can’t say much for where I see myself in 5 years but I can speak for the organization I’m running. I see it in all counties in Kenya and in at least 10 countries in Africa. I see us having support groups all over the country. I see the pregnancy and infant loss (October 15th) becoming a big deal for all of us. And I see it running without me.

4. Any question for us? We’ll publish our answer as well

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Volunteering more of my time to teaching either writing or digital skills (or both).

5. What would you do if you were president for a day?

Wow. I would fire everybody in government and get a new team in place. No politicians would make the list.

6. What’s your favourite book & movie?

I have a new favorite book and movie every so often. Right now I’m obsessed with a book called outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Movie? Definitely Shawshank redemption.

7. Who or what inspired what you do now?

What I do came to me through a bad experience. I lost 2 babies and that’s how I started Still A Mum. I am trying to fix a gap in society because I am a firm believer in responding positively to the stuff that happens to us. Ludwig Wittgenstein said “You get tragedy where the tree, instead of bending, breaks.” I’m bending.

8. If you were to change jobs, what profession would you get into? Why?

I would give my time to full time blogging. Why? For the time I’ve done it, it has changed me. I have un-learnt many things and that is what growing up is about – unlearning stuff we’ve picked up or things that were decided for us. Alternatively I would be a teacher. I’m really good at it.

9. If you had a superpower, what would it be?

I have thought about this for many years. I would love laser vision like Superman. I would use it to fry speakers in buses or those neighbors that play loud music in the night.

10. Which 5 things would you want to have if you were deserted on an abandoned island?

I know he doesn’t qualify as a thing but I would want to have my husband. He has a way of making fun out of tough situations while I panic and overthink things. Knowing him he would make me laugh about being abandoned on an island.
Phone
Power bank
Tool of some sort like a panga (for getting food)
A book

11. If you were a car, which one would you like to be? Why?

I am not a car person. I really I’m not. But anything matches functionality and beauty I’m game. I’m currently fascinated by the Nissan Dualis. If anyone decided they have been touched to buy me one I would love them forever.

Nissan Dualis

12. If you could be in any other band in the world, which one would you like to be in? Why?

Just a band. I don’t need to explain – they are awesome.

13. What’s the most challenging thing you have encountered while running a startup?

Fighting burn out especially at the beginning when you are doing everything for free. There are days I have thought “what am I doing? I should just get a job like other adults and buy me some nice things” Then I get an email from a woman saying we have changed her life and I remember why I do what I do.