The Story Of Citizen TV’s Kanze Dena: The Highs And Lows Of The TV Queen You’ve Never Heard Before (Part 1)

Kanze Dena is one of the most revered Swahili anchors in Kenya today. Her stay at Citizen TV has seen her rise through the ranks to become one of the best news presenters of our time. She not only glitters but also entertains and educates in equal measure. Do not forget to mention how she complements the ever gorgeous Lulu Hassan.

But behind the sweet smile and the heart-warming voice we are so fond of on Citizen TV lies a life that has gone through so much. The story of Kanze Dena, a story you have probably never heard before, will shake you to the core.

She has quite a life experience that will leave you flabbergasted and mind-boggled. Kanze Dena opened up about her life and what she has gone through to become who she is today. She was speaking on Rev. Kathy Kiuna’s show Woman Without Limits 3 weeks ago.

Here are some of the things you probably did not know about Kanze Dena:

–          She has three names: Kellen Beatrice Kanze Dena.

–          Was born to Duruma parents, a community in Kwale County.

–          She was brought up by a single mother after her father left when she was four years old.

–          Grew up in both Nairobi and Mombasa.

–          She schooled in Embu and specifically Kieni Girls High School.

–          She greatly suffered from low slef-esteem because she was bow-legged and had a protruding tummy and boobs at a tender age. She was looked down upon because of this.

–          She is a natural actress. Could act very well when in high school and after high school.

–          Her low self-esteem forced her to start drinking alcohol.

–          She worked as a waitress after high school and in the process got pregnant.

–          She later enrolled for a secretariat course but hid the pregnancy from her mother. It was until when she delivered at Pumwani that her mother got wind and came to see her and the baby.

–          She had planned to have her child adopted but her mother went to stay with the young girl (Natasha). Unfortunately, Natasha died after three months. This greatly threw her into depression and she contemplated committing suicide but as it happened, it never happened.

–          Later joined Nairobi Baptist Church where she found solace and rediscovered herself after thorough counseling. This greatly sufficed as she joined Bible Study classes and the praise and worship team.

–          Went to college and later joined KBC as an intern. When the KBC boss heard her voice, he recommended she goes for a voice test and she qualified to read bulletins on KBC radio at 4 p.m.

–          While at KBC and NBC, she got pregnant again and her world returned back to square one. She contemplated quitting church but was encouraged to stay.

–          After 3 months, she woke up one morning with blood all over her bed. Upon arrival at hospital she was told she had had a miscarriage. This greatly broke her down and she contemplated committing suicide again.

–          It was after seven months that she felt a lot of pain and visited hospital where they told her she had amoeba and needed serious medication.

–          After another scan, it was discovered she was pregnant. This shocked everyone.

–          By this time she had serious disagreements with her boyfriend and were not even seeing each other eye to eye. She wondered how to face him and tell him she was pregnant.

–          Then her mother fell ill upcountry and she was transferred to Nairobi for medication. O arrival, she fainted at ambassador and was rushed to hospital where she was diagnosed with cancer.

–          While in hospital, Kanze delivered her child.

Video Courtesy: Jubilee Christian Church

Part 2 of Kanze’s story coming next