After seven years of marriage to the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli , Mary Kilobi has welcomed her first child.
The 40-year-old news anchor described the journey to motherhood as one of patience, prayer, and hope.
“Mzee, (My husband) is overjoyed!” she said, “he is currently in Geneva and has not met baby AJ (Atwoli Junior) yet, but he is counting down to Tuesday [today], which is when he will be coming home.”
Francis Atwoli
Photo credit: pool
Mary’s absence from social media had sparked speculation, but she clarified that stepping away was a personal decision.
“I took a sabbatical in June, but it was not because of that. I enjoyed the peace that came with stepping away from the public eye. Now I am on maternity leave, but I will be back soon,” she said. “But also, why would I put it [pregnancy] out there? This journey was personal to us. We wanted to protect it from outside noise and speculation.”
For Mary, becoming a mother has been a lifelong dream.
“I believe any woman who is able to have a child and it’s God’s will would want to experience that joy. I am constantly surrounded by my nieces and nephews, and now having my own is an incredible feeling.”
During the seven years of waiting, Mary said, “I didn’t go through any medical procedures to conceive. I believe everything happens when it’s meant to. I know people will have so much to say, but I am happy. I have loved children my whole life, and now I finally have my own, my precious AJ.”
For women still waiting to experience motherhood, Mary offered words of encouragement: “Trust God. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. His timing is perfect. I waited seven years, and now my home is filled with joy. If it can happen for me, it can happen for you too.”
She shares a powerful biblical story that resonated with her, that of the Shunammite woman who hosted Prophet Elisha and was blessed with a son despite her husband’s old age.
"In the Bible, 2 Kings 4:11-35. This verse is a reminder that God works miracles in His own time. I held onto that, and now, here I am, Mama AJ. I also have a group of women who pray for me and now, they can see the goodness of God."
In a past interview on Citizen TV’s JK Live , Mr Atwoli shared that he met his wife, Mary, when she was 21 years old and working at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
He said he promised to marry her when she matured, even if it took “1,000 years.”
When she returned to Kenya, Mary joined KTN, and after some time, she became Mr Atwoli’s wife.
“She is my assistant, my lover, and she takes care of me. I’m a stupid lover,” Mr Atwoli said in the TV interview in 2018.
Mr Atwoli, currently in his 70s, has other children.
