This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
Published on December 21, 2019, Bitange Ndemo, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, shared his journey of finding a wife in an inspirational talk.
Prof Ndemo, who grew up in a polygamous family, revealed that as a young man, he wanted to emulate his authoritarian father. However, his teenage years were marked by failed attempts to get a girlfriend.
He recalled being advised by his older brothers to apply aloe vera sap and greet any girl he fancied, which never worked. Years later, he moved to Nairobi and continued his pursuit of young women, even going to the extent of spraying himself with cologne to catch the attention of a lady in church.
Prof Ndemo's efforts were in vain, but his life took a turn when he left Kenya to study in the United States. There, he experienced culture shock as female students asked him out on dates.
Upon completing his studies, he returned to Kenya with a promise to find a wife. However, it was a chance encounter at a university cafeteria that led him to land a date with a lady who showed interest in him.
Despite initial reservations from a relative, Prof Ndemo pursued the relationship, and the two eventually got married. Almost 30 years into their marriage, they are still happily together.
