Kate Actress to Rubadiri: Female celebs thriving in their careers despite becoming mothers at a tender age

Piece by: Peninah Njoki
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The recent numbers of teenage pregnancies in Kenya left many in shock, but gloomy as it may seem there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Below are female celebs who have made a name for themselves in the industry despite becoming mothers at a tender age.

Kate Actress

The celebrated actress  gave birth to her first child at only 19.

According to the Kenyan constitution she was an adult having attained age 18, but she was just starting to enjoy her freedom.

After giving birth,  Kate says she underwent depression, with her baby daddy running away.

"I finished high school well, then I went to Kampala to study. Two months later, I came back with a baby degree.

My mum was disappointed because she had sacrificed everything.

When I first told her, she was crushed. She didn't understand. I dropped out and raised the baby and ofcourse, the boyfriend ran away.

So I was in depression. I cried every day for a whole year."

Three years later, she went back to school and got a life-changing chance to act at the local drama, "Mother-in-Law", where she made her a  household name in the film industry.

Victoria Rubadiri

Rubadiri says she gave birth to Neema at just 18 and yes, she was so scared and not ready.

In a past open letter to her teenage daughter Neema Rubadiri said that she had healed her at a time when she was broken.

'DEAR NEEMA,

YOU SEE THIS PICTURE? YOU WERE A WEEK OLD, I WAS 18 AND SCARED OUT OF MY WITS.

YOU WERE PERFECTION, I WAS A WRECK. I FOUGHT FOR A LONG TIME WITH EMBRACING THE IDENTITY OF BEING A MOTHER BECAUSE I FELT I WASN’T READY.

TRUTH IS, YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO BE READY! I LEARNED THAT WITH TIME AS YOU GREW AND BECAME A DIFFERENT HUMAN BEING AT EVERY STAGE.

I GREW WITH YOU, MADE MY MISTAKES BUT PUSHED FORWARD. YOU HEALED ME WITH YOUR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.'

Rubadiri went on to move past her 'mistake' and has become among the most celebrated news anchors in Kenya.

Akothee

The self proclaimed president of single mothers gave birth at 14 and according to her she was a disgrace to her parents.

'I GAVE BIRTH AT THE AGE OF 14 I HAVE NO DEGREE, BUT 5 BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

I WAS A DISGRACE TO MY PARENTS💃💃, BUT NOW NONE OF MY CHILDREN IS A DISGRACE TO ME, FATHER LORD FIRST DEGREE DONE, I AM A PROUD PRETTY MOMMA OF 5 💃💃💃🤸🤸🤸'

Unlike most teenage mothers Akothee choose to focus on her life and has turned it into the life many thought she would never have.

She now flies first class, owns a travel and tour company and travels outside the country for performances.

The lesson we can pick is that 'we cannot allow our past to determine our future'.