Singer Vivianne Kenya.
“Where did she go?” That was the question fans asked when singer Vivian Wamboi, better known as Vivianne Kenya, seemed to disappear from Kenya’s music scene in 2023.
When I arrived in the United States, I immediately felt the weight of being an immigrant. Everything I had built back home had to be realigned, and that process was exhausting.
Life here has its advantages, such as the freedom to create my own schedule and the chance to explore new opportunities, but it also demands constant effort.
Every responsibility rests on me, from paying bills to managing a household, and that reality is far more intense than many imagine. The greatest reality check has been the struggle to keep going while supporting others.
Immigrants often work tirelessly, sending money back home while trying to build a life in a new country. Families sometimes fail to understand the pressure, assuming life abroad is easy, when in truth it is anything but.
You find yourself caught in a cycle of working, sending, and surviving. I was surprised by the behaviour of some Kenyans in the diaspora. I expected guidance and solidarity, but instead I encountered envy and competition.
It felt like joining a new school halfway through the term, where everyone already knows each other and you are the outsider. Some people became protective and even hostile, as if success was a limited resource.
Singer Vivianne Kenya.
That was shocking to me, though I also met strangers who showed kindness when I least expected it. I made the difficult decision to cut off certain people, even those close to me. It was not out of anger but for the sake of my peace. I realised that some expected me to struggle in the same way they had, almost as if my journey had to mirror their pain.
I could no longer accept that lack of compassion. Distance gave me peace, and in that space I learned to rely on myself. When I welcomed my son Jasiri, I was not ready, but I chose to embrace the experience as a gift. The bond between mother and child is powerful, and sustaining life with your own body changes you. My pregnancy was private because I needed peace, and complications in the final trimester led to an early delivery. Recovery was difficult, but my baby was healthy, and for that I remain grateful.
Motherhood now feels different from when I had my first child. I am more intentional, more intuitive, and more cautious.
Life is not easy anywhere, and everyone carries unseen struggles. We need to celebrate each other more, encourage rest, and embrace self‑care.
I keep my private relationships out of the spotlight, focusing instead on my children, my peace, and my music. I am working on new projects, and though balancing everything is challenging, I am learning to move with alignment and ease rather than force.
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