Mashirima: How Parents Reacted to Her Pregnancy at 24 & Out of Wedlock

Swahili news anchor Mashirima Kapombe recently shared deeply personal details about her life during a candid media interview.

The popular Citizen TV anchor was speaking during a conversation with Bahari FM - a Mombasa-based radio station.

She openly discussed the difficulties surrounding her first pregnancy. Specifically, she explained the immense disappointment her parents faced after she conceived out of wedlock.

A Moment of Disappointment

Kapombe confirmed that she gave birth outside of marriage. She noted that this outcome was "very disappointing" for her mother and father.

“Nilijifungua nje ya ndoa and that was very disappointing for my parents for sure. But I think we all learned some lessons there, myself and my parents.”

The journalist was relatively young at the time. She was approximately 24 or 25 years old when she found herself pregnant.

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Looking back, Kapombe acknowledged that she was deeply naive. She recounted her mother often telling her she was too young. Her mother would warn her that she had not yet seen enough of life to understand men.

“For me, as a young lady at the time, you can be very naive, my mother kuna jambo alikuwa anapenda kusema, ‘wewe ni mdogo sana hujajua maisha, unafahamu nini kuhusu wanaume?’ and at that time I was like, but you don’t know this guy, wewe unasema nini?’”

Kapombe reflected that sometimes a girl can be told small things by a man. This can lead her to believe he is good, kind, or caring.

However, as she grew older, she realised this view of the world was incorrect. She stressed the need to educate young women on what “true love” looks like.

Parents Offer Crucial Support

Despite their initial disappointment, Kapombe’s parents ultimately stood by her side. They accepted that she had made a mistake. They quickly focused on helping her get "back on track".

Her father, however, asked a critical and difficult question. He asked what the man responsible for the pregnancy was saying. He wanted to know if this person would take responsibility.

Kapombe admitted she had no answer to her father’s crucial question.

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"My parents said for someone who is not willing to come and take responsibility then that's not a good man."

Her parents then advised her that a man unwilling to be responsible was "not a good man". They insisted that at 25 years old, she needed to make a firm decision.

The Decision to Move Forward Alone

Mashirima soon focused on the practical realities of pregnancy. She needed support for things like clinic visits. She had to plan which hospital to use for delivery.

She also needed to collect money in case of an emergency Caesarean Section (CS). This necessary support was "not forthcoming" from the man involved.

She also considered core relationship values. Kapombe believed strongly in respect, faithfulness, and loyalty. Since these aspects were also absent, she concluded that "there's no future here".

She quickly made the decision to end the relationship. She chose instead to trust her family.

Kapombe praised her family, describing them as "fantastic" and "supportive". She highlighted that having that kind of family support is vital for every young woman.