GEOFFREY MBUTHIA ENTERTAINMENT SUB-EDITOR

09 August 2023

• The famed journalist got her first and only child when she was 18 and just beginning her college journey.

Seasoned Citizen TV anchor Victoria Rubadiri has celebrated her all-grown daughter in a lovely message that she posted on her social media.

The light-skinned journalist shared a cute photo of the two hugging each other as Victoria recounted the journey so far in a heartfelt caption.

She explained how Neema had been so fragile and hopeless to look at all those years ago, but how now her daughter was a total contrast to that image.

"Dear Neema, Can’t believe this day is here. A good 19 years ago I was a college student faced with the reality of becoming your mother. Then you were something to behold, fragile, helpless and brand new to the world.

Now I'm releasing you a strong, beautiful, intelligent and kind young woman. A whole, entire university student. You still are something to behold. I am so proud of you and can’t wait to see how you change this world. I love you."

Victoria's message was commented on by the likes of her dad, CNN journalist Larry Madowo and Lillian Muli who gushed about Neema and the job she had done raising her offspring.

In a May 2020 podcast with Double X Agenda, Victoria opened up about her journey as a single mom saying that it had happened when she was 18 years old, adding that it was rough back then as she was considered a disappointment to so many.

Her father is a pastor and a religious leader. "Truth is, you are never going to be ready. In terms of thinking what I had to give up, a lot of times the first thing that jumps to someone’s mind could be a thing or a lifestyle, my social life," she said.

"For me, because I got pregnant young, I fell into the stereotypical definition of a young single mum. For me, what I had to let go of what was that tag of a typical single mum. And let go of it not only from society but for me.

I made a conscious decision early on that I will not be that and the choice I would make to who I am now basically determined that.”

She said that she wasn’t going to let being a young and single mother define her, her daughter, Neema and her future. She wanted to grow out of that title. She said that decision has made her who she is and helped her heal.