Hello...

My name is Judy — a communications professional and trained counselling psychologist.
I support teams and individuals to approach storytelling with greater care, clarity, and ethical awareness, especially when working with lived experience.

I’m based in Nairobi, Kenya, and over the past 18 years, I’ve worked with individuals and communities navigating real, often complex human experiences—helping them tell their stories with authenticity.

I specialise in human-interest writing, developmental editing, and communications for mission-driven organisations. I approach each engagement with care, ethical intention, and a deep respect for the person behind it.

I’m available for remote work globally.

Samples of my work

Personal Essays:

Written for those navigating grief and loss, these pieces explore widowhood, identity, and the quiet, often unexpected ways grief shapes everyday life. The work sits at the intersection of lived experience and formal training in counselling psychology.

From Wife to Widow... •

The Day Grief Snuck Up on Me

If there is something I am learning about grief is how it just sneaks up on you and you don’t see it coming! Today was such a day for me…

I met an elderly couple this morning. Walking together, grinning at each other and it looked like they were supporting each other along their morning walk. And I just thought “oh men! that should have been me and Mak!”

Seeing this sweet couple made me remember the conversations Mak and I had about how we were going to grow old, grey and toothless together (don’t ask me why toothless).

We had such plans!! Some of them completely hair-brained but heyyy...who’s judging! We’d planned to share our bifocal spectacles and even our dentures - such brilliant money-saving schemes we had! We’d planned how we were going to absolutely spoil our grandbabies and how we’d be a complete menace to our kids as we did this. We’d mapped out evening strolls to keep our joints lubricated and looked forward to endless cups of nyummy masala tea - and ohhh how Mak loved his tea! Such plans we had for our sunset years!!

And I, for sure, looked forward to spending my latter years with this man who knew and loved me during my nimble 20s, who loved me in my 30s as I changed in motherhood, who cheered the loudest when I hit my 40s. I wanted him by my side into my 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s...however long! But alas it was not to be.

The loss of this dear, dear man is truly hard to fathom. I dearly miss you Naftal Makori, my love, my husband, my co-conspirator, partner in crime, my prayer partner, my best friend...life is not the same without you.

God help me. This.Is.Hard

Impact Journalism:

Work done across newsrooms, humanitarian organisations, and public health settings, engaging complex and sensitive subject matter—community trauma, gender-based violence, and cultural taboos—with strong ethical grounding. MOHI pieces were produced within a communications role supporting over 30,000 beneficiaries across Kenya.

Soap making: A skill that turns hardship into empowerment

There is a common saying in Africa: “If you empower a woman, you empower a nation.” In Mathare and its environs, soap making has emerged as a viable trade that is changing the economic dynamics for many women.

It has become a lifeline for many of the families we serve which are predominantly headed by single mothers or elderly women taking care of their grandchildren. Many of these women do not have formal education so getting a regular job is next to impossible and they have to rely on small b...

Jewellery Making Skill Has Been a Life Changer

Miracle Children Caregivers is a women’s group that has been in existence since 2007.  It has 10 members who are predominantly widowed women and single mothers. Today, this group makes jewellery which they supply to the gift shop at Missions of Hope International (MOHI).

It is a bright and sunny day when we set out to meet with this group based in Kawangware. The group leader, Evaline Mukhabi, has set things up so we will meet with some of the group members and get to see first hand how they do...

Meet the Fire ‘Evangelist’

It is a chilly Monday morning when we sit down for an interview with Missions of Hope International (MOHI)’s fire advocate, Jose’ Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri, who calls himself the fire evangelist.

“I am all about teaching people how to interact with fire,” he tells me. “I remind them that while fire is your friend, if you do not focus on it when in use, fire can be a devastating foe. Each day before I report to work, my prayer is: Lord lead me where the fire is before it happens. I have seen him do th...

Editing Samples:

Meaning is often buried beneath excesses. I uncover what sits at the core, then shape it into language that is clear, accurate, and accessible.

Digital platform editing

Content edited for National Today, a high-traffic US-based digital platform. Each piece required balancing SEO requirements with editorial quality and cultural accuracy for a global readership.

Manuscript editing