University of Nairobi Student Abandons Independent Living Citing Severe Anxiety and Mental Health Struggles in Early Twenties

University of Nairobi student Gathoni Kaara returns home to Kiambu, sparking a vital discussion on anxiety and the mental health challenges of living alone.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 9:59 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

The Hidden Psychological Cost of Youthful Independence

The romanticized vision of early adult independence has met a stark reality for Gathoni Kaara, a student at the University of Nairobi, who recently documented her retreat from solo living. After moving into a well appointed bedsitter, Kaara found that the silence of living alone was not the freedom she anticipated, but rather a catalyst for profound emotional distress. Her decision to pack her belongings and return to her parents, home in Kiambu County serves as a public admission that the transition to adulthood often carries a heavy mental price tag that many are unprepared to pay.

A Sober Choice in the Face of Early Twenties Confusion

The move back to Kiambu was described by Kaara as a sober decision prioritized over the perceived prestige of independent urban living. Through her social media platforms, she articulated that her early twenties have been defined by a sense of pure confusion and an overwhelming realization that she did not actually desire to stay alone. Despite the convenience of living near her campus in Nairobi County, she opted for a lengthy commute from her family residence, asserting that her academic pursuits were the only factor tethering her to the capital city.

Confronting the Weight of Solitary Anxiety

At the heart of Kaara's departure was an admission that anxiety had fundamentally compromised her ability to function within her own home. She confessed to her audience that she was not accustomed to the solitude required by her new lifestyle, and the resulting mental strain left her unable to remain in the house. By leaving her apartment in order, washing her utensils, and organizing her books before calling a cab, she performed a final, structured exit from a living arrangement that she felt had become detrimental to her overall stability.