Biography
Born in 1980, Kanze Dena is a prominent Kenyan journalist who currently serves as the spokesperson for the Executive Office of the President of Kenya. She also oversees the Presidential Spokesperson’s Communications Unit (PSCU).
Before being appointed to the government by Uhuru Kenyatta, Kanze Dena worked as a news anchor, conducting political interviews and discussing current events and entertainment. Her previous companies included leading Kenyan networks such as the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and Citizen TV, from which she resigned in 2018.
Kanze Dena resigned as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Dean of PSCU to take up a higher role. After six weeks, she was promoted to Spokesperson in the Executive Office of the President.
Kenyan journalist
Kanze Dena |
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 Kanze Dena: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photos |
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| Wiki Events & About Data | |
| Full name: | Kellen Beatrice Kanze Dena |
| Stage name: | Kanze Dena |
| Born: | 1980 (44 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Kwale County, Kenya |
| Wage: | Sh800,000 |
| Nationality: | Kenyan |
| Height: | Do not have |
| Parents: | Mr. Kiwasi, Zainabu Kiwasi |
| Siblings: | Elsie Hemsi Stephens, Frank Meliso |
| Couple: | Nick Mararo (married 2019) |
| Boyfriend • Partner: | Do not have |
| The children: | Nathaniel Amani, Natasha Dena, Joe Mararo |
| Job: | Journalist • Spokesperson |
| Net worth: | $500,000 |
Early life and education
Kellen Beatrice Kanze Dena, a member of the Mijikenda community, was born in 1980 to Duruma parents and grew up in Nairobi and Kwale. Due to her parents’ origins, she is part of the Daruma tribe, one of the nine distinct tribes of the Mijikenda group. She has a beautiful older sister named Elsie Hemsi Stephens and an older brother named Frank Meliso.
She attended Kianjokoma Primary School (now St. Matthews Mixed Boarding Primary School) before moving to Kieni Girls Senior Secondary School for her O-Levels, where she graduated in 1997. She eventually enrolled at the Foundation College of Professional Studies to study journalism and mass communication. She attempted to enroll at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) but was unsuccessful.
Kanze Dena had a strained relationship with her mother, Zainabu Kiwasi, and kept her pregnancy a secret. However, Zainabu Kiwasi learned of the pregnancy the day after the birth and offered to care for her daughter, Natasha Dena, allowing Kanze Dena to focus on her studies. Sadly, Zainabu Kiwasi died of colon cancer, which was discovered when she became ill and sought professional care.
Career
Kanze Dena’s media journey began with an internship at Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) radio, where she worked as a Swahili news editor. Her stellar performance during the internship earned her a position as a news editor at KBC TV, where she worked for six years before moving to Citizen TV.
While working as a director and broadcaster, Kanze Dena co-hosted the Nipashe Wikendi show with Lulu Hassan for nearly six years at Citizen TV. Her reputation as an excellent broadcaster grew, and she eventually landed the role of PSCU vice-chancellor and deputy spokesperson for the State.
Today, Kanze Dena is the spokesperson for the Executive Office of the President and oversees the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSU). Her communication skills and ability to remain calm under pressure have played a major role in her successful career. It is no wonder that she is widely regarded as a role model for many young women in Kenya and beyond.
Personal life
Natasha Dena, Kanze Dena’s first child, met a tragic fate, which was later revealed in an interview with Maisha Magic’s Story Yangu segment. She revealed that she became pregnant while working as a waitress, and her ex-boyfriend dumped her when he found out. Worse still, she kept her pregnancy a secret from her mother, who only found out after the baby was born.
Initially, she considered giving her child up for adoption, but her mother convinced her not to. However, the newborn had to be sent to Mombasa to live with her grandmother. Kanze Dena continued her studies in Nairobi, where she faced rumors of her pregnancy, which quickly spread like wildfire. Over time, the speculations proved to be correct, and she gave birth to a son, Nathaniel Amani.
On March 2, 2019, Kanze Dena got married in a private ceremony at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia County. Her husband, Nick Mararo, who happens to be the CEO of Nuvision Media, was by her side. The beautiful bride wore a long cream-colored gown, while the groom looked dapper in a gray suit. They exchanged vows at around 1:00 pm, surrounded by their loved ones. Their marriage is blessed with two children, Joe Mararo and Nathaniel Amani.
Social media
Kanze Dena, White House spokesperson and head of PSCU, is active on social media. She chats with loved ones about her work, family, and memorable moments.
On her official Instagram account @kenze_dena, she has over 284k followers and a huge following on Twitter @KenzeDena.
Net worth
Kanze Dena left her job at the media company to replace Manoah at State. She received a significant raise for her new job. Her alleged salary was the topic of the day after she quit her job at Citizen TV.
According to Bizna Kenya, Kanze Dena’s expected monthly salary is as high as Sh800,000.
It is rumored that Kanze Dena has amassed an estimated net worth of $500,000.
