I Thought I Could Rely on Family to Protect Me in My Darkest Moments, She Says, But Instead, They Took Advantage of My Love, Sold My Secrets, and Left Me Vulnerable to Enemies I Never Knew Existed Until It Was Too Late
My name is Ruth Atieno, and for most of my life, I believed family was a shield. I was raised in Homa Bay County, where we were taught that blood is thicker than anything else. No matter how hard life became, I trusted that my relatives would stand with me. When I later moved to Nairobi to run a small but growing events business in Westlands, I carried that belief with me. I worked hard, stayed focused, and shared my success openly with my family, thinking that transparency was a sign of love and unity.
When my business started doing well, I invited two close relatives to help me manage operations. I trusted them completely. They had access to my office, my phone, my clients, and even my personal struggles. I spoke freely around them, sharing my fears, plans, and private matters, never imagining those words would one day be used against me. I believed family would protect my weakness, not trade it for advantage. Looking back, I realize my biggest mistake was assuming that shared blood meant shared loyalty.
The problems started quietly. Clients cancelled events at the last minute without explanation. Rumors began circulating that I was dishonest and difficult to work with. Some suppliers stopped responding to my calls. At first, I blamed competition and the tough economy.
