'Don't Ever Give Up'

She had miscarriage after miscarriage, but she never gave up hope of holding her own baby in her arms. Today Irene Karari-Kamau has three children. She tells ANDANJE WOBANDA her story.

- Andanje Wobanda

Irene had her whole life planned out. She was to complete her studies, get a job as an ICT professional, get married and have children, in that order. But sometimes life throws you curve balls.

‘In 2002, I came to Nairobi to study at the then Kenya College of Accountancy,’ she says. ‘That’s where I met Isaac. He was in USIU studying international business administration during the day and used to come for CPA in our school in the evening.’

She was a village girl from Kiambu and he was a city boy, but they hit it off at once. ‘When we were courting, we talked about kids. I wanted two children, he wanted at least four.’

They decided to wait until Irene had finished her master’s at the United States International University Africa before starting a family. At the time, Isaac had just returned from the UK where he had completed his own master’s, and was working as an auditor in Eldoret. They got married and the minute she finished her studies, they started trying for a child.

‘But as much as we tried, they were not coming. Then one day I woke up PICTURES: C/O IRENE KARARI-KAMAU with a bloated stomach. A blood test confirmed I was six weeks pregnant.’

The couple was elated. They immediately called family and friends to share the good news.

But about six weeks later, Irene noticed spots of blood in her pantie.

‘We immediately called the doctor, who told me to rest and go see her the next day. But I wasn’t happy. I talked to a neighbour, who told me to go to the hospital immediately.’

At the hospital, the couple was given devastating news – Irene had miscarried. Not just one baby, but two.

‘I was informed it was a twin pregnancy and I cried the whole time. Luckily friends and family were by our side to comfort us.'