Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru shared a rare glimpse into her private life as she celebrated her son, Ian Waiguru, during his traditional engagement ceremony attended by close family and friends.
Clearly overcome with emotion, the governor was captured in a video from the intimate ceremony wiping tears of joy from her soon-to-be daughter-in-law’s face.
Ian’s longtime girlfriend, Joan, wore a baby pink off-shoulder dress accented with a mauve hair clip and carried a bouquet of red roses, while Ian kept it simple in a polo T-shirt.
Waiguru stood out in a beige dress with kitenge accents, in line with the ceremony’s neutral, beige-themed dress code.
Blessing the union, Waiguru expressed pride and optimism for the couple’s future.
“Ian, with joy and gratitude, we celebrate this beautiful milestone in your life. Your engagement to Joan is not only a union of hearts but also a promise of a shared future built on love, respect, and faith… As a mother, I couldn’t be more proud. Love you. Congratulations to the lovebirds,” she said.
The ceremony also included a prayer session, with the couple kneeling as church elders offered blessings. Messages of goodwill later poured in from Kenyans, many praising the event’s simplicity and elegance.
Celebrations ended on a high note as Waiguru and her family danced energetically, while the couple maintained their neutral-tone theme throughout the reception.
Ian, the governor’s eldest son, has largely kept a low profile despite his mother’s political stature. An entrepreneur since the age of 18, he is the founder of IT firm Something Inc and has previously spoken publicly about his passion for entrepreneurship.
He has also attracted attention in the past for his lavish lifestyle, notably in 2015 when a video surfaced online showing him driving an Aston Martin estimated to be worth between Sh15 million and Sh20 million.