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Karen Nyamu opens up about dealing with criticism and online noise
14th September, 2026 11:01 AM
Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has opened up about how she has learned to cope with negative press and criticism, revealing that public scrutiny was once difficult for her to handle.
In remarks shared on Monday, September 14, 2026, Nyamu recalled a time when negative comments would affect her emotionally, saying she would sometimes arrive home, park her car and cry before going inside.
Crying in her car
Nyamu said dealing with constant negative attention was not always easy, especially before she became accustomed to being in the public eye.
“The time I used to get home, cry, napark gari kwanza. Before nikitoa gari, I cry. I cry,” she said.
She explained that crying also gave her an opportunity to pray and speak to God about what she was going through.
“And the good thing niki cry, I pray. I’m talking to God. And I’m crying and I’m telling God,” Nyamu added.
According to the senator, however, she eventually realised that she could not allow negative comments to affect her every day.
“You can’t get… it can’t get to you every day. At every day tunasema tuko pabaya, kila siku tunasema tuko pabaya, hapana,” she said.
‘You grow a thick skin’
Nyamu said experience has gradually changed how she responds to criticism, explaining that she has developed a thicker skin over time.
“You grow a thick skin and you no longer feel it,” she said.
Her comments point to the emotional pressure that can come with constantly being discussed online, particularly for public figures whose personal and professional lives are often subjected to public opinion.
Rather than allowing every negative comment to affect her, Nyamu said she has learned to decide which opinions deserve her attention.
Knowing the difference between criticism and noise
Nyamu also drew a distinction between genuine criticism and what she described as unnecessary online noise.
“And then there’s a difference between criticism and noise,” she said.
She explained that she is willing to listen when someone genuinely criticises her, whether through social media or a blog, because such feedback can offer an opportunity to learn.
“Someone can tell you, someone can criticise you. I listen to that,” she said.
Nyamu added that she can also read comments on social media or see criticism in a blog and take it seriously when it is genuine.
“But noise, noise is noise,” she said, signalling that she has learned not to give equal weight to every comment or claim made about her.
Her reflections offer a glimpse into how she has adjusted to public scrutiny, with prayer, experience and the ability to separate constructive criticism from online noise becoming part of how she protects her peace.
