Janet Mbugua shares lessons learnt after facing her fears with her sons
By Katemarthason Okudo, August 16, 2026Media personality Janet Mbugua has shared a personal experience that pushed her beyond her comfort zone after her two sons encouraged her to confront some of the fears she has carried for years.
In a video shared on her social media pages on Sunday, August 16, 2026, Janet revealed that a visit to the Snake Park and a ride on the Ferris wheel turned into a lesson about fear, motherhood and personal growth.
The former news anchor admitted that snakes, crocodiles and heights have always been among the things she fears most. However, spending time with her children motivated her to face them head-on.
A day that turned into a life lesson
Janet explained that what began as a simple family outing quickly became an emotional experience.
She said standing close to snakes and other animals she feared made her realise that no amount of preparation could completely remove feelings of anxiety. “Snakes. Crocodiles. Heights. My sons encouraged me to finally face my fears, and that found us at the Nairobi National Museum Snake Park and the Two Rivers Ferris Wheel,” Janet said.
The mother of two decided to document the experience and share it with her followers, giving them a glimpse into both the difficult and humorous moments of the day. She admitted that fear took over at several points during the outing.
‘My heart was racing’
According to Janet, the experience reminded her that fear often affects people both emotionally and physically.
She explained that her reaction during the visit was far from calm. “I don’t think anything prepares you for standing that close to what terrifies you. As you’ll see in this video, I was a bit of a chaotic mess. But honestly, valid. My heart was racing, and my whole body was screaming to step back,” she said.
Despite the anxiety, Janet chose not to walk away. Instead, she remained present and allowed herself to experience the moment. That decision, she said, changed the way she viewed fear.
Facing fear one step at a time
The media personality noted that overcoming fear does not happen instantly.
She explained that confronting something frightening does not automatically make the fear disappear. “But I stayed, and something happens when you stay in it instead of running. It doesn’t fix everything overnight. The fear doesn’t just switch off. It just begins to loosen its grip, bit by bit,” Janet explained.
The fears people do not always talk about
Beyond snakes and heights, Janet said the experience made her think about fears that cannot be seen.
She reflected on the pressure many people carry while trying to meet expectations in different areas of life. “It also gets you thinking about the fears that aren’t physical, the fear of not showing up well, not feeling like a good enough parent, friend, or business person,” she said.
Janet added that challenging physical fears can sometimes provide the confidence needed to face emotional struggles as well. “I just feel like facing physical fears teaches you to be a little less afraid of facing the rest,” she added.
Her message served as a reminder that growth often begins with small, uncomfortable moments and that sometimes, the people who encourage us the most are those closest to us.