In an exclusive interview, Mtaa Wangu captures the moving story of Henry Kipchilis- a father who was once entrapped in addiction, destroying his relationship with his children.

I was just a fresh-faced high school graduate when I first fell into the clutches of drug addiction, desperate to satisfy my cravings and willing to do anything for a quick fix.

It was the 90s. My relationships with my family deteriorated rapidly. I believed that education wasn't meant for someone like me.

As the addiction deepened, I resorted to selling items from my own home to fuel my destructive habits. Cigarettes, Kubeer, Miraa, Muguka, Cocaine – I indulged in them all, and they wreaked havoc on my life.

Eventually, my family could no longer bear the chaos I brought into their lives, and I made the heart-wrenching decision to leave.

Following the turn of events, I found myself thrust into the unforgiving streets, where crime became my desperate means to satisfy my insatiable cravings.

Amidst the darkness, a flicker of hope emerged as I found love and started a family of my own. My wife and I welcomed our precious son into the world, a beacon of light in my troubled existence.

I became a father!

Yet, addiction remained an unrelenting force, crippling my ability to provide for my family.

Desperation consumed me, and I directed my anger towards my family; blaming them for my own shortcomings.

I became physically and verbally abusive, scarring my eldest son with the violence he witnessed within our home.

Through a turbulent cycle of departures and returns, my wife endured years of heartache. Amidst the turmoil, we welcomed another precious gift, our daughter, in 2004.

A year later, having endured years of this tumultuous cycle, leaving and returning, my wife finally left for good.

With no wife, no children, and no reason to live, I sank deeper into addiction. Heroin became my solace as I sold everything I owned, even my own clothes, just to sustain my destructive habits.

My life became entangled with crime, and I travelled across the country to evade the watchful eye of the police.

My family tried everything to help me, but I was trapped in denial. How could I admit I was an addict? In my mid-thirties, fifteen years deep into addiction, I was left with nothing but my demons.

As I witnessed my fellow junkies fall victim to their own addictions, death hung over me like a threatening ghost.

As I attended funeral after funeral, I came to the conclusion that I was also headed for an early grave.

Desperate for change, I turned to my brother, who expected nothing more than the usual plea for help. But this time, I meant it. I needed help.

Approaching my forties, I entered rehab and fought tirelessly for one year to reclaim my life.

Later after rehab, reconciliation with my family became my top priority, especially my children.

Although my wife had moved on, I wrote heartfelt letters to both my children and my wife, seeking their forgiveness and acknowledging my shortcomings as a father.

I was ready to take responsibility for my mistakes and do everything in my power to rebuild our fractured relationships.

Also Read: Getting my son in campus inspired me to start a grocery business

It was a challenging journey, but I managed to reconcile with my daughter and began taking small steps towards reconnecting with my son, who had been deeply scarred by our past.

Addiction had taken everything from me – my relationships, my purpose, my hope.

But with the help of God and unwavering determination, I now stand as a proud father, committed to being the best dad I can be for my children.

Addiction is a cruel thief that robs you of everything. It destroys lives, leaving you with no reason to go on. I lost so much, but today, I am grateful for the second chance I've been given.

I am proof that with help and a determined spirit, redemption is possible. I am here, standing tall, working every day to be the father my children deserve.

protasmercy01@gmail.com

Drug addiction robbed me of a relationship with my children

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Mercy Protas