Francis Atwoli Opens Up About His Marriage to Young KTN News Anchor Mary Kilobi

Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has finally opened up about his marriage to KTN young news anchor Mary Kilobi.

Appearing on Citizen TV’s Jeff Koinange Live show on Wednesday night, Atwoli confirmed he is married to the beauty and went ahead to reveal that he met her 13 years ago in neighboring Uganda.

The trade unionist said the journalist was only 21-years-old at the time and promised to marry her when she matured.

“When I met her about 13 years ago, that’s is in 2005 in Kampla and she was at that time with Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) and I was in company of my second wife whom I have released to go and do politics and she has taken over. At that particular time we talked and she was still young at around 21 years old and I told her when you mature even if it takes 1000 years I will marry you.”

“After her stay in Uganda she came back to Kenya, got a job with KTN. And because of the nature of work I do, you need somebody to assist you, you want somebody to rush and get you something and it must be a person you trust. She is my assistant, she is my lover, she is my wife and she got to take care of me. Am a stupid Lover,” Atwoli told Jeff Koinange.

Asked by Jeff Koinange to send a message to his latest wife who was watching the interview, Atwoli said: “I tell she is a nice lady, she is taking care of me, she is committed to our relationship and that does not mean I don’t respect my elder wife, she is a wonderful mama she has kept my together and she is doing a commendable job.”

On the age difference between him and Mary, he stated that ; “There is no age limit between a man and a woman, everywhere in the world.”

The firebrand trade unionist described Ms Kilobi as an “all-rounded woman” who is “very caring”.

 Atwoli is 69 while Mary is 34. He also dismissed claims that he snatched her from Bungoma businessman and politician Jack Wanami Wamboka.

“Her [Ms Kilobi’s] parents said no one had paid bride price for their daughter. Before I marry a woman, I send emissaries to confirm if she is someone else’s wife. That process [of ascertaining Mary Kilobi’s marital status] was done; and I was given the green light to marry her after it was established that she was single at the time,” said Atwoli.

In an interview with Nairobian last week, Ms Kilobi said she is not bothered by the 35-year age gap between her and Atwoli.

“I love Atwoli. He is a caring man, who is always there for me. Given another chance, I will still fall in love with him.”

“I have never come across a man, who loves and fears God like him [Atwoli],” she told The Nairobian.