Balancing evidence-based psychology with real-life parenting and nutrition wisdom, Aida Kamanyire has become a trusted name for thousands of caregivers across Kenya. With a strong online presence and a deep understanding of the emotional journey of motherhood, she offers support where it’s often needed most, in the messy, beautiful middle of raising children and raising oneself.
Where Psychology Meets Parenthood: Aida’s Foundational Story
Meet Aida Kamanyire, a psychotherapist, parenting expert, and the force behind one of Kenya’s most active online parenting communities.
Aida studied Counseling Psychology at the Presbyterian University of East Africa, a path she chose not just out of academic interest, but from a deep desire to understand the emotional struggles we often carry in silence.
“My decision to pursue psychology was largely influenced by my deep interest in human behavior and the emotional worlds we carry, especially those we rarely speak about. Over time, I found myself drawn to spaces where people felt safe to open up, and I knew I wanted to be part of that healing journey.”
Aida Kamanyire, Parenting expert
Her motivation was also rooted in personal experience. Having faced her own mental health challenges, Aida felt compelled to not only better understand herself but also walk alongside others in their healing.
Today, she works as both a psychotherapist and a parenting and mental health educator, offering one-on-one therapy sessions, primarily online, for individuals facing emotional exhaustion, strained relationships, and the often-overlooked transitions that come with motherhood.
Beyond therapy, Aida leads an online parenting community with over 230,000 members, where she provides trusted, culturally grounded guidance on weaning, feeding, child development, and the emotional wellbeing of both children and their caregivers. Her work brings together professional expertise and lived empathy, connecting psychology and parenting in a way that’s practical, honest, and real.
Building a Digital Parenting Community
When Aida became a mother, she quickly saw how little support there was, especially in Kenya, for parents struggling with feeding, emotional overwhelm, and day-to-day parenting. That gap inspired her to start Weaning/Feeding and Parenthood Kenya (ORIGINAL), an online space where she could share her experiences and offer guidance. What began as personal storytelling quickly grew into one of the most active parenting platforms in the Kenya.
“I began sharing my experiences and insights online, and the response was overwhelming. This journey has shown me just how eager parents are for real conversations, the ones that don’t judge but instead walk with them.”
Aida Kamanyire, Parenting expert
To support the growing need for connection and real-time conversations, Aida launched the Facebook group on August 15, 2020. Since then, it has steadily grown into a thriving online community with over 232,000 members. Today, the group serves as a dynamic hub where parents exchange advice, share everyday wins and struggles, and access trusted support on issues ranging from feeding to emotional wellness, all within a culturally familiar and judgment-free space.
This journey has shaped her view of today’s parent: someone who is constantly multitasking, seeking emotional safety, and often feeling alone. She’s learned that parents don’t want perfection, they want honesty. They want a space where they can be real, heard, and supported without judgment.
“Another challenge is emotional availability… mothers are often present physically but emotionally depleted. This isn’t from lack of love but from trying to meet everyone’s needs while ignoring their own.”
Aida Kamanyire
In the digital age, many parents, especially mothers, struggle silently with the pressure to appear perfect. Social media fuels constant comparison, leaving little room for rest, self-care, or emotional presence. Guilt builds around screen time, discipline, feeding, and the belief that they must do it all.
Behind polished posts, Aida sees the deeper realities.
“Behind the beautiful photos are parents dealing with loneliness, fear of judgment, financial strain, unresolved trauma, and marital tensions. Many are silently grieving for the village they never had, the career they had to pause, or the version of themselves they feel they’ve lost.”
Aida Kamanyire, Parenting expert
That’s why she believes digital communities must shift, from offering advice to offering presence. When online spaces welcome honesty, share lived stories, and hold space for vulnerability, they become a true village for parents who need one.
The Emotional Weight of Parenting
Parenting comes with deep emotional layers, especially for mothers, many of which often go unseen. Through her work as a psychotherapist, Aida has seen how closely parenting stress is tied to mental health. When a parent’s mind is stretched thin, it becomes harder to respond with patience or presence. That stress doesn’t just stay in the mind, it can show up as constant fatigue, emotional outbursts, disconnection, or even physical issues like insomnia or body pain.
“When a parent’s mental health is stretched thin, stress accumulates and often shows up as irritability, guilt, emotional numbness, or even physical symptoms like headaches, insomnia, or digestive issues.”
Aida encourages caregivers to look out for signs that they may be overwhelmed: losing patience easily, feeling distant from their child or partner, waking up with dread, or never feeling rested. These are signs that support is needed.
She also highlights a key gap in Kenyan postnatal care: the baby is watched closely, but the mother is often left emotionally unattended.
“Postnatal care in Kenya still focuses heavily on the baby, but mothers are often emotionally unattended. We need support groups, open conversations, and trained counselors in maternal clinics.”
To change this, Aida calls for more mental health support in maternal clinics, safe spaces for sharing, trained counselors, and a culture that embraces rest, shared caregiving, and emotional check-ins.
Parental guilt is another weight many silently carry. Whether it’s feeling like they’re not doing enough or comparing themselves to unrealistic standards, the pressure can become heavy. Aida reminds parents that guilt often comes from love, but love doesn’t require perfection.
“Guilt often comes from love… but it can become heavy if left unchecked. I always remind parents: You’re allowed to be learning, evolving, and imperfect. Children don’t need perfection; they need presence. They remember your love, not your mistakes.”
Aida Kamanyire, Parenting expert
After childbirth, many women experience an identity shift. They may feel like they’ve lost parts of themselves, as the world begins to see them only as “Mum.”
“It often begins with a sense of invisibility… as though the woman is now seen only as “Mum” and not as a full person with her own dreams, desires, and voice. There’s a letting go of who she was before, even if she wasn’t ready.
The shifts are emotional, physical, social, and even spiritual. Some feel guilt for missing their “old selves,” while others are overwhelmed by the responsibility of shaping another human life. Many mothers I work with also struggle with the pressure to be “perfect,” which disconnects them from their natural, intuitive selves.”
Aida gently helps mothers reconnect with who they are beyond motherhood, through small powerful acts like resting without guilt, listening inward, doing what brings joy, and asking for help.
Because reclaiming identity doesn’t require becoming someone new. It begins with making space to be fully yourself again.
Nurturing the Whole Family: Body & Mind
In Aida’s work, wellness isn’t just about food or feelings, it’s about tending to the whole family, both body and mind. She draws a clear link between nutrition and mental wellness, not just for children but for caregivers too.
When children are well-nourished, they sleep better, focus more, and manage emotions more easily. But caregivers also need fuel. Skipping meals, staying dehydrated, or relying on sugar spikes can intensify emotional reactivity and fatigue. That’s why Aida treats food as more than fuel, it’s a form of care.
Aida the Author: Nourishing Families Through Her Cookbooks
Aida has written two cookbooks (with a third one in progress), designed to help parents prepare simple, nourishing meals that feed both body and soul. These books aren’t just about recipes, they offer a way to slow down, be present, and reconnect with intention. Through food, she teaches that caring for our own bodies is just as important as caring for our children. One of them, Happy Baby Cook Book, is an eBook she authored with love, offering mums a variety of healthy yet yummy meals for little ones aged 6 months to 5+ years.
Alongside the books, Aida also runs a Facebook page named after the cookbook, Happy Baby Cook Book by Aida Kamanyire, which has grown into a thriving online community of over 14,000 followers. Through this platform, she continues to share lessons, practical guidance, and encouragement on child nutrition and family wellness, creating a space where parents learn, connect, and support one another on their journey.
Beyond food, Aida offers practical tools for emotional wellness. Her advice to mothers? Start small. Self-care doesn’t have to mean spa days, it can be a quiet glass of water in the morning, a deep breath in a stressful moment, or the courage to ask for help without guilt.
“Another big one is asking for help, and receiving it without shame. Mothers often try to do it all, but growth happens when we release the need to be everything, and allow ourselves to be human.”
Aida Kamanyire, Parenting expert
She also helps caregivers talk to children about tough emotions like anxiety, grief, or change. The key, she says, isn’t complicated language, it’s honesty, safety, and presence.
“Children don’t need complicated words, they need safe spaces and honest, simple truths. I encourage caregivers to name feelings gently: “You look sad,” or “It’s okay to feel scared when things change.” Use stories, drawings, or pretend play to explore emotions.
Most importantly, be available. Let them ask questions. If you don’t know the answer, it’s okay to say, “I’m figuring it out too.” What they remember most isn’t the explanation, but the feeling of being held through it.”
Aida reminds us that children don’t always say when they’re struggling, they show it. A child who seems “too good” or quiet might be silently hurting.
“Children often express emotional distress through behavior rather than words. Signs might include changes in appetite or sleep, frequent tummy aches or headaches, withdrawal from play, excessive clinginess, or sudden aggression”
Ask gentle questions. Create spaces where they can feel safe being their full selves, even in silence.
“Sometimes, they become “too good”.. quiet, obedient, and self-sufficient, but underneath, they may feel unseen. Tune into their world, ask curious questions, and create safe spaces for expression without punishment. Just like adults, children need to be seen in their fullness especially in their silence.”
Aida Kamanyire, Parenting expert
Aida Kamanyire’s Vision for Parenting Support
As Aida looks to the future, her vision for parenting support is clear: less pressure, more presence. In a world where modern parenting is loud, full of comparisons, endless opinions, and silent guilt, she offers a grounding truth: your presence is more powerful than your perfection.
She believes that emotional availability, not flawlessness, is what truly shapes a child’s well-being. When parents are mentally well, regulated, and self-aware, they create an environment where children feel safe enough to grow, express, and thrive.
Aida’s hope is for systems, healthcare, education, workplaces, and communities, to prioritize parental mental health as a key part of child development. She envisions a culture that values rest, normalizes vulnerability, and reminds parents that showing up as they are is enough.
To new parents, Aida offers a grounding reminder:
“Care for your mind, not just for your sake, but because your child learns to face the world by watching how you face yourself. Let go of perfection. Let your home be a place where everyone, including you, is allowed to be human.”
Aida Kamanyire, Parenting expert
Aida Kamanyire, continues to share reflections, resources, and support for parents walking the journey of mental wellness and modern parenting. If you’d like to follow Aida’s work, book a parenting support session, or simply learn from her insights, you can connect with her on Facebook and LinkedIn.
In her doing so, may many rise. You and I can be part of the safe spaces she’s helping build, nurturing families, supporting communities, and making the world gentler for us all.
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