Despite being married off at a tender age of 16 years, it didn't squash the nominated lawmaker's resolve to pursue greatness.
Mercy Nungari remains is one of the longest-serving journalists in the field, being the producer of the popular show Njanjo Ya Muturire that airs on Saturday presented by Kameme TV's Man Nyari.
The journalist also works as a standby presenter in the station that broadcasts in the local Kikuyu language.
The journalist-cum-politician came into the limelight in November 2019 after she was laid off from Mediamax Network Limited together with Man Nyari.
Their sacking attracted backlash from the show's fans, forcing the management to rehire the duo just days after.
Before moving to local station, Nungari served as a presenter at Bahasha FM together with other bigwigs in the industry who include current Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni wa Muchomba.
She also served as the producer for a show presented by Gathoni wa Muchomba at the same station before joining politics.
Nungari was appointed to the Kiambu County Assembly in August 2017 by former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, after her popularity grew from her consistent humanitarian projects.
“I became an MCA by chance. Deep down, I wanted to be the voice of the poor and the prisoners. I think my work at the prisons is what opened doors.
“I was recognised and people urged me to vie for the seat. I was lucky to be nominated,” remarked Nungari in a past interview with The Standard.
In the 2019 interview, Nungari gave a heartbreaking story of how she was married off at the tender age of 16 years after a life of poverty in Limuru, Kiambu County.
“I became a mother at the tender age of 16. After finishing Form Four, a man took advantage of me and made me his wife. I was taking care of his six kids, who had been left by his first wife after she died.
“The man used to beat me mercilessly and bring women to our matrimonial home. I even tried to commit suicide, but I am lucky I survived,” remarked the journalist.
The journalist’s passion for community service started in 2015 when she established an initiative to visit Kamiti Maximum Security Prison as a preacher.
