December usually turns long-delayed introductions into bold defining moments.
There is something magical about the festive season that makes couples finally gather the courage to say, “There is someone I want you to meet.”
Maybe it is the laughter in the air, the slow pace of the holidays, or the comfort of families coming together after a long year.
For many partners who have tried and postponed, planned and failed, hoped and hesitated, December is often the moment where everything finally feels right.
The nerves are still there and so is the fear of judgment but somehow, the season offers couples the boldness to walk into a living room full of people they value and introduce their better halves.
“I just hope they accept me.”
Joseph Kiprotich, 28, is a businessman. He has found “the one” after years of praying and searching, and he is ready to introduce her to his family this holiday season.
He met his partner, Nelly Cherop, in 2018, but life took them on separate paths, only for destiny to bring them back together in 2022.
Like many couples, their relationship has had its highs and lows.
“I guess ours had more downs,” he admits with a half-smile, “but we kept going.”
“In May this year, we had a disagreement and spent two months apart. That is when we realised we were actually meant to be. After reconciling, we then decided to take things to the next level.”
An introduction ceremony was initially planned for earlier in the year, but unforeseen issues forced them to postpone it.
“We needed time to figure out our differences,” Joseph says thoughtfully.
This time around, every detail has been carefully thought through.
Joseph Kiprotich is ready to introduce Nelly Cherop to his family.
“Since it was a rescheduled ceremony, we are fully prepared,” he explains. “Coming from the same culture makes things even easier. My family is thrilled to finally meet my partner.”
But amid the excitement, Joseph admits he is anxious about meeting the girl’s family.
“I expect to be judged,” he says. “Maybe because of my tattoos, my hairstyle, or the fact that I’m already a father to a nine-year-old daughter.”
The couple chose the holiday season for their introduction.
“It is convenient. Most people are around and available, so it just made sense.”
His biggest hope?
“That everything goes as planned.”
And his biggest fear?
“Not being accepted,” he says quietly.
Still, Joseph is determined to show his true self. “I want to come out as a confident and genuine person.”
Joseph has noticed that introduction ceremonies have really changed.
“Back in the day, only elders were allowed to talk,” he says. “Also, nowadays people go for introductions even after living together for years, after having children, or even while pregnant.
“Peer pressure and online influencers have made introductions lose their traditional touch. They are becoming more about showmanship and money than genuine connection. It is like people want to prove something more than just introducing their loved ones.”
For Joseph and his partner, the introduction is not just a formality, it is the gateway to something bigger.
“We are preparing to get married as soon as possible, hopefully in December,” he says.
Having attended one introduction before, Joseph says he learned a valuable lesson.
“First impressions matter, but you should be natural. You cannot keep up a fake image forever. Just be yourself.”
Carolyne’s December of courage
Carolyne Mwikali, who has had three failed long term relationships, is finally ready to meet her new partner’s family.
The 31-year-old personal banker dreamed of this moment for years. She admits that her career, while fulfilling, has also been her biggest stumbling block when it comes to love.
“I’m the type of person who always gives 100 per cent in everything I do, and for a long time, my job came first, even before dating.”
The long hours at the bank, endless reports, and customer demands left her drained.
“By the time I got home, I did not even have the energy to talk to anyone, let alone nurture a relationship,” she says.
Three relationships later, she began hearing the same thing from partners – ‘you are too busy’.
“Each time something promising started, it would slowly fall apart because of my schedule. It is not that I did not care, I just did not know how to balance.”
Then came David Wanderi, a man she met through a mutual friend last year. Their first few meetings were easy and natural.
“There was no pressure with him. He understood that I loved my work, but he also reminded me that I deserved time for myself too.”
Asked how they decided it was time to “meet the parents,” Carolyne smiles.
“We both just knew. It was not rushed or forced. It came naturally.”
Their introduction, she explains, has been in the works for a while but truly took shape as the holiday season approached.
“December just felt right,” she says. “It is the one time everyone slows down a bit. People are available, families are together and there is this warm, festive energy in the air. It makes everything easier.”
Still, she admits to carrying a cocktail of emotions into the day.
December usually turns long-delayed introductions into bold defining moments.
“It is excitement, anxiety and curiosity all rolled into one,” she says. “You want everything to go smoothly, but you also know families can be unpredictable.”
To prepare, Carolyne has left nothing to chance.
“From the conversations we have had about traditions to what I will wear…David has told me his family is traditional, so I have to be mindful especially about dressing modestly, and respecting customs and traditions.”
She has also carefully chosen a gift for his parents.
“I want to show my appreciation without overdoing things. I want them to see that I value this moment.”
As a Kamba woman being introduced to a Kikuyu family, Carolyne is aware of the cultural differences.
“I have tried to learn a few greetings in Kikuyu, just to show commitment.”
Her own family, meanwhile, is buzzing with excitement.
“They have heard so much about him and cannot wait to meet him in person. My mother keeps asking what he likes to eat,” she says. “They are very happy for me.”
Asked what she anticipates most about the day, Carolyne, just like Joseph, says,
“The food!”
“But honestly, it is the silent judgment. You can feel when people are sizing you up, trying to decide if you are good enough for their son. I just hope I can be myself and that they see the real me.”
For her, this introduction is more than a formality, it is a personal milestone.
“It is proof that timing does matter. There were moments I thought marriage was not for me. But maybe I just needed to grow, to understand what love actually requires.”
Her biggest hope is that the families connect as easily as she and David have.
“I just want it to go well, to feel genuine,” she shares. “The only fear I carry is not being accepted, but I’m choosing to focus on the positive. I believe when love is true, everything else aligns.”
Carolyn observes how social media and peer influence have reshaped relationships.
“People now feel pressured to ‘announce’ everything, the engagement, the dowry, even the introduction. But for us, this is private. I’m not doing it for likes, I’m doing it because it is real.”
After this introduction, the couple plans to marry.
“We have talked about engagement and dowry, but we are letting things flow naturally,” she says.
As she readies herself for that glorious moment, Carolyne says she feels nothing but gratitude.
“After three failed relationships and years of waiting, I have realised that love does not always show up when you want it to, but when it does, you will know why it took so long.”
From a lost phone to lasting love
Dennis Ngige is a nursing officer working in Kisii. He met his partner in September 2021. Dennis was in his third year at the University of Kabianga and she was in first year.
A friend who happened to be her cousin introduced them when she travelled to Kapkatet so that Dennis and the cousin could escort her to the main campus the next day.
“She is called Julia, the woman I’ve grown to love. After her admission to the university, she misplaced her phone and I asked for her number so I could try calling it to help recover it.” Dennis recalled.
The phone was eventually found, but that moment opened a door neither of them expected.
They began talking, sharing jokes and building a friendship. By January 2022 the friendship had turned into a relationship.
“We have been together for three years and ten months now.”
With time they learned how to handle disagreements without letting them grow and they kept their promise of loyalty to each other.
“If something goes wrong, we talk about it before sleeping and ensure the conflict does not continue into the next day,” says Dennis.
Dennis admired Julia’s hardworking nature, as it reminded him of his mother. She was loyal, supportive and always motivating him. These qualities convinced him that Julia was the woman he wanted to take home for a formal introduction.
By December 2024 he had made his decision. It was the festive season, and he believed it was the right moment. He was free from work, his siblings would be home and the house would be full of warmth.
“At the time, Julia was expecting a child and she had already asked to know my parents and his home,” Dennis recalls with a smile.
The timing felt perfect. Even so, he carried mixed emotions.
“I was happy and nervous at the same time,” he said. “I hoped she would feel welcomed and I wished for my parents to see her the way I saw her.”
To prepare, he informed his parents. They bought some items for his parents and travelled home. He had watched his elder brother introduce his wife and this gave him confidence.
The introduction itself was simple. They sat with the parents, talked, shared a meal and later joined in the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“There were no heavy customs, nothing complicated. It was warm and honest.”
After everything, Dennis felt brave, responsible and well prepared for marriage.
On her part, Julia Makina remembers how she received the news that she would finally meet his parents.
“I was very happy since I had been yearning to see his parents,” she said. They had been together more than two years and she felt the time was right.
She thought about the questions she might be asked and how to answer them respectfully. She selected her outfit carefully because she wanted to look presentable.
She had never attended anyone else’s introduction ceremony before, so she wanted it to go well, not only for her but for them as a couple.
After Dennis introduced her to his parents in December 2024, she then introduced him to her own family in April 2025. She hoped her parents would be proud of him.
As the months passed, Julia felt joy knowing that their relationship was no longer hidden. She felt they had taken a big step, one that made their union stronger.
Now, a year since their introduction season, Julia and Dennis’s anniversary reminds them of how far they have come.
The festive season feels meaningful to them because it is when both families welcomed them.
“We are planning our wedding, it will take place soon,” says Julia.
