Kenyan X user Wordsmith, also known as Ole Pundit, has come under heavy criticism for his comments on human rights defender Njeri wa Migwi’s appearance. His remarks sparked outrage, with many Kenyans calling him out for what they termed a blatant display of disrespect.
On February 10, 2025, Wordsmith, who identifies as a ‘Mental Health Advocate’ in his bio, posted a side-by-side image of Njeri with the caption:
“This is what toxic feminism does to women. It saps you of all radiant energy na inakuacha ukikaa kama chizi. Stay guided.”
His comments did not sit well with Kenyans online, who condemned his post as body-shaming and uncalled for. Surprisingly, it was mostly men who criticised him on social media.
Mihr Thakar called out Wordsmith’s bias, writing, “You are unable to recognise the biases in your mind. The difference in clothing and the smile is the only thing you are comparing; there’s no difference in the facial structure.”
Gathogo Mwangi condemned the body-shaming remark, stating, “Stooping too low in disrespect for women for a few likes and retweets. One might think you are any admirable mental health advocate. Smh.”
Maina Muchai questioned the motive behind the attack: “Why would someone hate a stranger this strongly? Is it how someone was raised, or is it just plain madness? How? Why would you feel the need to say such vile words towards a stranger?”
Martin Njuguna accused Wordsmith of hypocrisy, stating, “That you profess to be a mental health advocate while spewing vitriol against someone whose work involves dealing with some of the most cruel and inhumane cases of GBV—that would break lesser mortals—is really disingenuous of you.”
Koki Wabule defended Njeri’s work, writing, “This woman has done more for society than most people have. She has a lot to offer the world, and you evidently have nothing.”
https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=1&gdpr_consent=CQL_lsAQL_lsAEsACBENBaFoAP_gAEPgABQgINJD7C7FbSFCwH5zaLsAMAhHRsAAQoQAAASBAmABQAKQIAQCgkAYFASgBAACAAAAICRBIQIECAAAAUAAQAAAAAAEAAAAAAAIIAAAgAEAAAAIAAACAIAAEAAIAAAAEAAAmAgAAIIACAAAgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQOhSD2F2K2kKFkPCmwXYAYBCujYAAhQgAAAkCBMACgAUgQAgFJIAgCIFAAAAAAAAAQEiCQAAQABAAAIACgAAAAAAIAAAAAAAQQAABAAIAAAAAAAAEAQAAIAAQAAAAIAABEhCAAQQAEAAAAAAAQAAAAAAAAAAABAAA.f_gAAAAAAAA&addtl_consent=2~70.89.93.108.122.149.196.236.259.311.313.323.358.415.442.486.494.495.540.574.609.864.981.1029.1048.1051.1095.1097.1126.1205.1276.1301.1365.1415.1449.1514.1570.1577.1598.1651.1716.1735.1753.1765.1870.1878.1889.1958.1960.2072.2253.2299.2373.2415.2506.2526.2531.2568.2571.2575.2624.2677.2778~dv.&client=ca-pub-2204615711705377&output=html&h=358&adk=1485835764&adf=3425816814&w=430&abgtt=6&lmt=1739347093&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=8102960348&ad_type=text_image&format=430×358&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tnx.africa%2Fentertainment%2Farticle%2F2001511606%2Fmental-health-advocate-wordsmith-faces-backlash-over-remarks-on-njeri-wa-migwis-appearance&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=334&rw=400&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1739347093057&bpp=1&bdt=3523&idt=-M&shv=r20250210&mjsv=m202502060101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D0f88f8ae3cc42fcd%3AT%3D1738177647%3ART%3D1739296974%3AS%3DALNI_MblVewxNb723uzIm4ZhdtOjjM3JxA&gpic=UID%3D00000fdbe5743adf%3AT%3D1738177647%3ART%3D1739296974%3AS%3DALNI_MZ95mMa_nSidiy1YmRQus-0Z0v3Gw&eo_id_str=ID%3D4a023513cb117e7b%3AT%3D1738177647%3ART%3D1739296974%3AS%3DAA-AfjZeLXnJYk75G4N04XBxeUgb&prev_fmts=0x0%2C430x746%2C430x358%2C430x358&nras=5&correlator=316980511506&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=180&u_his=2&u_h=932&u_w=430&u_ah=932&u_aw=430&u_cd=24&u_sd=3&adx=0&ady=3686&biw=430&bih=746&scr_x=0&scr_y=546&eid=31090150%2C95352069%2C95347433&oid=2&pvsid=3228970536873655&tmod=1911206246&uas=3&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C430%2C0%2C430%2C932%2C430%2C854&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=1152&bc=31&bz=1&ifi=5&uci=a!5&btvi=2&fsb=1&dtd=429
Carolyne Thee added, “The things she has been subjected to are beyond this world when trying to make this world a better place for the rest. It’s draining, and that’s a testimony from her. She’s not a toxic feminist; she is an advocate on feminism, and she does an amazing job.”
Juma Stephen questioned Wordsmith’s attack, “Where do you get the audacity to bully a human rights defender? Njeri is fighting for the welfare of children and destitute people. Even if you had a hundred lives, you wouldn’t accomplish even a tenth of what she has achieved.”
https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=1&gdpr_consent=CQL_lsAQL_lsAEsACBENBaFoAP_gAEPgABQgINJD7C7FbSFCwH5zaLsAMAhHRsAAQoQAAASBAmABQAKQIAQCgkAYFASgBAACAAAAICRBIQIECAAAAUAAQAAAAAAEAAAAAAAIIAAAgAEAAAAIAAACAIAAEAAIAAAAEAAAmAgAAIIACAAAgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQOhSD2F2K2kKFkPCmwXYAYBCujYAAhQgAAAkCBMACgAUgQAgFJIAgCIFAAAAAAAAAQEiCQAAQABAAAIACgAAAAAAIAAAAAAAQQAABAAIAAAAAAAAEAQAAIAAQAAAAIAABEhCAAQQAEAAAAAAAQAAAAAAAAAAABAAA.f_gAAAAAAAA&addtl_consent=2~70.89.93.108.122.149.196.236.259.311.313.323.358.415.442.486.494.495.540.574.609.864.981.1029.1048.1051.1095.1097.1126.1205.1276.1301.1365.1415.1449.1514.1570.1577.1598.1651.1716.1735.1753.1765.1870.1878.1889.1958.1960.2072.2253.2299.2373.2415.2506.2526.2531.2568.2571.2575.2624.2677.2778~dv.&client=ca-pub-2204615711705377&output=html&h=358&adk=1485835764&adf=1616159066&w=430&abgtt=6&lmt=1739347093&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=8102960348&ad_type=text_image&format=430×358&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tnx.africa%2Fentertainment%2Farticle%2F2001511606%2Fmental-health-advocate-wordsmith-faces-backlash-over-remarks-on-njeri-wa-migwis-appearance&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=334&rw=400&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1739347093057&bpp=1&bdt=3522&idt=-M&shv=r20250210&mjsv=m202502060101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D0f88f8ae3cc42fcd%3AT%3D1738177647%3ART%3D1739296974%3AS%3DALNI_MblVewxNb723uzIm4ZhdtOjjM3JxA&gpic=UID%3D00000fdbe5743adf%3AT%3D1738177647%3ART%3D1739296974%3AS%3DALNI_MZ95mMa_nSidiy1YmRQus-0Z0v3Gw&eo_id_str=ID%3D4a023513cb117e7b%3AT%3D1738177647%3ART%3D1739296974%3AS%3DAA-AfjZeLXnJYk75G4N04XBxeUgb&prev_fmts=0x0%2C430x746%2C430x358%2C430x358%2C430x358&nras=6&correlator=316980511506&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=180&u_his=2&u_h=932&u_w=430&u_ah=932&u_aw=430&u_cd=24&u_sd=3&adx=0&ady=4400&biw=430&bih=746&scr_x=0&scr_y=546&eid=31090150%2C95352069%2C95347433&oid=2&pvsid=3228970536873655&tmod=1911206246&uas=3&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C430%2C0%2C430%2C932%2C430%2C854&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=1152&bc=31&bz=1&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=3&fsb=1&dtd=430
Another user responded: “I don’t know her, but I think she is great. Her eyes now scream of having seen war—the battles she fights for little girls and boys. She has seen things that would break a person. Be kind.”
Despite the backlash, Wordsmith did not back down. He responded to many of his critics, defending his remarks and insisting that he had done nothing wrong. He maintained that his statement was not body-shaming but rather an observation of what he termed as the effects of “toxic feminism.”
In response to the online attacks, Njeri chose not to engage in a war of words. Instead, she highlighted her work. She posted images of herself helping children and wrote:
https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=1&gdpr_consent=CQL_lsAQL_lsAEsACBENBaFoAP_gAEPgABQgINJD7C7FbSFCwH5zaLsAMAhHRsAAQoQAAASBAmABQAKQIAQCgkAYFASgBAACAAAAICRBIQIECAAAAUAAQAAAAAAEAAAAAAAIIAAAgAEAAAAIAAACAIAAEAAIAAAAEAAAmAgAAIIACAAAgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQOhSD2F2K2kKFkPCmwXYAYBCujYAAhQgAAAkCBMACgAUgQAgFJIAgCIFAAAAAAAAAQEiCQAAQABAAAIACgAAAAAAIAAAAAAAQQAABAAIAAAAAAAAEAQAAIAAQAAAAIAABEhCAAQQAEAAAAAAAQAAAAAAAAAAABAAA.f_gAAAAAAAA&addtl_consent=2~70.89.93.108.122.149.196.236.259.311.313.323.358.415.442.486.494.495.540.574.609.864.981.1029.1048.1051.1095.1097.1126.1205.1276.1301.1365.1415.1449.1514.1570.1577.1598.1651.1716.1735.1753.1765.1870.1878.1889.1958.1960.2072.2253.2299.2373.2415.2506.2526.2531.2568.2571.2575.2624.2677.2778~dv.&client=ca-pub-2204615711705377&output=html&h=358&adk=1485835764&adf=1799385040&w=430&abgtt=6&lmt=1739347093&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=8102960348&ad_type=text_image&format=430×358&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tnx.africa%2Fentertainment%2Farticle%2F2001511606%2Fmental-health-advocate-wordsmith-faces-backlash-over-remarks-on-njeri-wa-migwis-appearance&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=334&rw=400&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1739347093057&bpp=1&bdt=3522&idt=-M&shv=r20250210&mjsv=m202502060101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D0f88f8ae3cc42fcd%3AT%3D1738177647%3ART%3D1739296974%3AS%3DALNI_MblVewxNb723uzIm4ZhdtOjjM3JxA&gpic=UID%3D00000fdbe5743adf%3AT%3D1738177647%3ART%3D1739296974%3AS%3DALNI_MZ95mMa_nSidiy1YmRQus-0Z0v3Gw&eo_id_str=ID%3D4a023513cb117e7b%3AT%3D1738177647%3ART%3D1739296974%3AS%3DAA-AfjZeLXnJYk75G4N04XBxeUgb&prev_fmts=0x0%2C430x746%2C430x358%2C430x358%2C430x358%2C430x358&nras=7&correlator=316980511506&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=180&u_his=2&u_h=932&u_w=430&u_ah=932&u_aw=430&u_cd=24&u_sd=3&adx=0&ady=5180&biw=430&bih=746&scr_x=0&scr_y=546&eid=31090150%2C95352069%2C95347433&oid=2&pvsid=3228970536873655&tmod=1911206246&uas=3&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C430%2C0%2C430%2C932%2C430%2C854&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=1152&bc=31&bz=1&ifi=7&uci=a!7&btvi=4&fsb=1&dtd=431
“Hey! My name is Njeri Migwi from @usikimye. We have a feeding program that serves between 300-500 school kids, the elderly, and the vulnerable in Soweto. You can always pop by our office to volunteer to help feed the kids.”
Njeri wa Migwi is the founder and CEO of Usikimye, an organisation focused on preventing and supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
A wife and mother of five, Njeri’s activism is deeply personal. She was married as a minor and endured over a decade of domestic abuse. Although she lacked nothing materially, she was emotionally broken. Her painful past now fuels her mission—to ensure no woman suffers the way she did.
There's no story that cannot be told. We cover the stories that others don't want to be told, we bring you all the news you need. If you have tips, exposes or any story you need to be told bluntly and all queries write to us [email protected] also find us on Telegram
