The Mayo Clinic defines Bipolar Disorder as a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings.
“These include emotional highs, also known as mania or hypomania, and lows, also known as depression. Hypomania is less extreme than mania,” stated the Clinic on their official website.
They went on, “When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania, you may feel very excited and happy (euphoric), full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.”
Bipolar Disorder is a lifelong condition that can be managed with a treatment plan including use of medicines and therapy.
One popular Kenyan who has not shied away from publicly speaking about living with the disorder is Ms Saumu Mbuvi, one of the daughters of former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko.
In a reflection of her life in January 2025, Ms Mbuvi said living with the condition was part of her reality but was not her definition.
“It’s a part of me, a complex, layered piece of my being that I’m learning to understand and embrace. My journey is about finding balance in the highs and lows, grounding myself in faith, and growing spiritually as I navigate this life with grace and resilience,” said Ms Mbuvi.
She mentioned her disorder as she reflected on what she intended to change about her life after years of being in the limelight- good and bad- due to her love life and being a vocal politician’s kin.
“Life has placed me on a path of self-discovery, one that is raw, painful, and profoundly beautiful. As a single mother of two extraordinary girls, I’ve chosen to step away from the distractions and chaos of my past and embrace the clarity and freedom that come with sobriety. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary for them, for me, for the life we all deserve.
I’ve learned to be selfish with my time, not to shut others out but to finally honor my own needs. For years, I poured everything into everyone else, losing pieces of myself along the way. But now, I’m choosing to pour into me; to grow, to heal, to show my daughters what it means to stand tall, even when life feels heavy. I’m teaching them the power of choosing yourself, the courage of healing even when it’s messy, and the beauty of prioritizing love and self-worth,” said Ms Mbuvi in part.
She went on, “This season of my life is about growth, unlearning, relearning, and becoming the version of me that I’ve always deserved to be. I am shedding the weight of the past and building a foundation of love, strength, and authenticity, not just for myself, but for my girls. They are watching me bloom, and I’m watching them grow alongside me. We are healing, growing, and learning one day at a time. And through it all, we are creating a life filled with intention and joy. A life where we are whole, even as we continue to mend. This is our journey, and it is beautifully ours.”
The Mbuvi family has in the recent past been known to be vocal about mental health issues. Aside from Ms Mbuvi, Mike Sonko has also been vocal in championing the treatment of Kenyans struggling with mental health issues including top Kenyan boxer Conjestina Achieng’ and former television reporter Kimani Mbugua- both of whom he has overseen their treatment for months.
