Kenyan-Born Australian Senator Lucy Gichuhi's Daughter Dismisses Her Mum's Claims of Abusive Marriage
The daughter of Kenyan-born Australian Senator Lucy Gichuhi has defend her father, William Gichuhi, against her mother's claims that he was an abusive husband.
In her newly released memoir, Behind The Smile: From the Slopes of Mount Kenya to Commonwealth Parliament of Australia, Ms. Gichuhi reveals she suffered physical and emotional abuse in the hands of her husband of more than 30 years.
She also discloses that her husband cheated on her with one of her sisters and that she once caught them in bed.
“I momentarily thought of smashing his head with a drink bottle but then I remembered that I am an Australian now and domestic violence law would catch up with me,” says Gichuhi.
She also writes of an incident where her husband eavesdropped on one of her phone conversations as she expressed frustration on his refusal to support the family.
“All hell broke loose, William did not say a single thing to me that whole week. He was furious…I asked him about a bill that needed to be paid. Suddenly, he charged at me like a raging bull and slapped me so hard across the face. He then hit the wardrobe with his hand and broke the mirror but hurt his hand, which started bleeding,” she narrates.
“I was terrified, confused and shattered all at the same time. It brought back memories of being in Kenya when William had hit me hard and slapped me around the face after an argument,” she adds.
However, speaking to a Kenyan news outlet,Joy Muringi, Ms. Gichuhi's daughter, has accused her mother of publishing the book for selfish gains.
“Out of the three decades mentioned, I lived with my parents for 21 years of them. Never have I ever seen physical or emotional abuse. I am actively against domestic violence as it has sadly been a part of my extended families so I would never ever defend an abuser,” says Muringi.
"However, I am utterly disgusted that my mother would use her senatorial position to defame a wonderful man,” she adds.
She says that when their mother told them she would be releasing a book, they all thought she would be writing about her success story.
“My mother did not write the book from home when she first mentioned she was writing a book several months ago, we thought it was about her own life not about exposing this family unnecessarily so we left her to her own devices,” she notes.
Muringi also dismisses claims that her dad is not supportive, explaining that he played the roles of both father and mother while the Senator was busy with politics.
"From the beginning, my father has had to play both the father, being the protector, provider, and the mother, being the nurturer, the soft one you run to when you are hurt."
“When my mother lost her job, she alleged he was unsupportive. That is nonsense when she was spending long nights at the library, he paid for everything including my pocket money so I could go out with friends,” Ms. Muringi says.
“Sure, he was not the best husband as their marriage was rocky but he was supportive in the sense that he never complained when he had to do both his share and her share of the housework."
Comments
Lucy you should have…
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Lucy you should have discussed this matter with your family especially your children because even though you are a victim of abuse your revelations in the book is very very hurtful to them and only exposes your self-centeredness. When you are done with that gig, it is the same family you will come back home to.
Her father has Bought her…
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In reply to Lucy you should have… by Mugikuyu (not verified)
Her father has Bought her with more Pocket money (as Usual). Also: Her father Spending money on her mother's Education does NOT negate or Erase the alleged truth that her father (Physically and even Emotionally) abused mothher. Noepe!
Nb: This kid Damsel needs to hit the Library too (like her mother) in order to Grow up. Her father's 'Money will never Buy her happiness". This kid is a Dad's girl Spoiled and a sad case (to say the least).
Precisely, the last…
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In reply to Her father has Bought her… by GUEST1 (not verified)
Precisely, the last paragraph says it all.. She is a daddys'girl... Many decent African women hide domestic violence from their children and are hood at pretending that everything is OK in order to protect the children... So the children grow up thinking their daddy is perfect while he is vile!it takes a lot of courage for a woman in her position to say she is a victim of dv... This daughter is being used by the abusive husband to further frustrate the Senator.. I bet he is intimidated by her success.
Exactly.
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In reply to Precisely, the last… by Mgeni (not verified)
Exactly.
Botton line DONT use Private…
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Botton line DONT use Private Family issues/affairs on Public platform..NOP No Man or Woman is perfect PERIOD.Washing dirty clothes on public....Regret/ Downfal.
Who saw this coming?
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Who saw this coming?
She used Soup Opera method…
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She used Soup Opera method of incest - men sleeping with every woman in the family to sell her book. The method has backfired badly. Who want to belong to a creepy family. The husband and her children must be very hurt by her selfish greed.
Daddy's girl! Good on her…
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Daddy's girl! Good on her. FAMILY FIRST. If he wronged her as she claims and forgiven, airing it in public is not on. Should have gone to confessional, that's more like it! I wonder what the husband is going to do about it? Surely, he will rise to defend himself or is he going to bottle it all up as African men appear to do in the West then WHAM! I dread to think.
The daughter agrees that mom…
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The daughter agrees that mom,and daddy were rocky at times.How rocky? Could be true that he mounted the sister in law.She does deny abuse in around about way.But mainly she is testifying that he was supportive.
However, I strongly believe that ,even though the intent is to sensationalize the contents.There has to be some truth albeit embellished.In other words, its not a work of fiction.I would also not rule out the husband as a willing participant in the book.
If she was truly driven by financial gains,and it comes to the surface that most of the contents are not true,the dream of being on the best seller list goes down the drain.With all these suspicions, the publisher must be sweating.
This is rubbish especially…
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This is rubbish especially when it’s coming from the senator, why didn’t she quit her marriage if she was being abused for 3 decades? And if you was issued with a divorce letter why didn’t you take it then instead of refusing? And you are speaking in your book that you was having a good sex, are you okay in your mind? Talking of good sex and you know very well your kids will come to read the book! This shows how evil you are, lots of doubt whether you was the one who was abusing your husband or he was... if you are looking for money in your book I think this is a total failure!!!
This woman looks pathetic…
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This woman looks pathetic from the word go.The other day,she exported corruption to Australia by using PUBLIC MONEY to finance her family travels.Exposing family life for selfish gains/sympathy is stupid especially when the daughter says it's lies.No wonder even her physical looks are that of martha karua.Stupid women only after public mercy using lies.
I am so disappointed by the…
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I am so disappointed by the senator. You cannot write all that and expect to continue living with that man.Why did you wait this long to display him to the world? You have watered your glory and you have broken that family. The hardest fight will not come from your husband but from your own kids who have disowned your story!! Pole mama.
And yes. I have been in this institution of marriage for 4 decades. My advice: Think about your kids next time you open your mouth.
If you can withdraw that memoir, the better for you and your loved ones.
Not mounted Maxiley! I fell…
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Not mounted Maxiley! I fell off my couch! ha,ha, sijasikia that description siku mingi. Farasi wako wapi?!
@ Sukari, I was undecided as…
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In reply to Not mounted Maxiley! I fell… by Sukari (not verified)
@ Sukari, I was undecided as to what word I should use, between "mounting",and "getting on top" so I flipped the almighty quarter...
You say farasi wako wapi,…
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In reply to Not mounted Maxiley! I fell… by Sukari (not verified)
You say farasi wako wapi, they were doing ROLL PLAY...
Ghaiii ati what? looooooooool
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In reply to Not mounted Maxiley! I fell… by Sukari (not verified)
Ghaiii ati what? looooooooool
I think she missed her…
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I think she missed her calculations, only the other day Lucy was all over media telling public how her husband is loving and has been helpful. Now because she want her book to be bought she just decided to tarnish her husband’s name for selfish gain. What a wolf!
Lucy you are a woman u don’t tell lies just because you are hungry for money. Please grow up beyond that level.
At some point after reading your so called book I think you need to see a psychiatrist.
This issue of burying your…
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This issue of burying your head in the sand has been going on for too long in our society. There is no way we can confront the evil in society if we pretend it does not exist. Rape, abuse, incest, cheating, ... . To the daughter: you have no right to dispute your mothers life story she lived it , she owns it. I have seen so many mothers cover up the misdeeds of their spouses from children. Mothers giving their children birthday, Christmas gifts, even that pocket money just to protect their kids. To the men who stand up against abuse kudos to you. Wish we had many of you pass it on to your sons. We need to grow boys who respect women.
This issue of burying your…
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This issue of burying your head in the sand has been going on for too long in our society. There is no way we can confront the evil in society if we pretend it does not exist. Rape, abuse, incest, cheating, ... . To the daughter: you have no right to dispute your mothers life story she lived it , she owns it. I have seen so many mothers cover up the misdeeds of their spouses from children. Mothers giving their children birthday, Christmas gifts, even that pocket money just to protect their kids. To the men who stand up against abuse kudos to you. Wish we had many of you pass it on to your sons. We need to grow boys who respect women.
I havent read the book but…
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I havent read the book but will look for it. Looks like its already a best seller.
History does not change so why should she sugar coat it in the book? If it all happened as narrated and they didn't resolve it, and apologies didn't take place, then what is the problem of revealing it the book instead of waiting for God's judgement day bcoz it will still resurface.
DV is real and needs to be told out for many reasons, it could be a form of therapy, a lesson to abusers, encouragement to abused, and if the truth will make it bestselling book, why not?
My question to Lucy as the wearer of the shoe, what is the motive of telling it out? To the daughter, am sorry for her having to live in such a family situation. She should leave her father to fight his battle. As for Gichuhi, we need to hear from him, the horses mouth.
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