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Janet Wambui, popularly known as Wambui Momo, was in a toxic marriage before her life changed for the better when she rose to fame through the song
Momo by the late Mugithi star singer Murimi wa Kahalf.
When Ms Wambui was contacted by Murimi Wa Kahalf to feature as a video vixen on the hit song released in 2011 Momo (plus-sized woman), she was unsure of what reaction she would receive from the public. Nonetheless, she went on to feature on the song which turned out to be a hit transforming her into a celebrity.
Despite the trolls and bullying she has had to endure for being a plus-size woman by the public, Wambui Momo says, the fame turned out to be a major blessing in her life that saw her secure a job at the office of the embattled deputy president Riggy G.
"It's a big deal to work at the DP office. God is amazing," Wambui Momo said in a recent YouTube interview.
Wambui accompanies Hon. Rigathi Gachagua a.k.a. Riggy G. as a protocol officer, where her main role is to usher in dignitaries and other VIP officials.
The song exposed her, boosted her self-confidence, and not only earned her a living but also nurtured an acting career in her.
"The publicity also got me a slot on Papa Shirandula's show, Hullabaloo Estate on Maisha Magic, Njoro wa Uba and Vitimbi. Comedians Eric Omondi and Desagu featured me in their YouTube videos. The song got me on a plane for the first time. We flew to Mombasa. We were also supposed to fly to the UK just before Murimi Wa Kahalf died. My life changed because of Murimi wa Kahalf," she maintains.
In the interview, Wambui narrates that when the famous Kikuyu secular musician, was planning a video shoot for the hit song, he had a big challenge in getting a vixen to play the role.
He had promised his friends Sh5,000 to whoever could bring him the perfect person for the video until a friend introduced him to Janet Wambui.
. Soon after the song was released, the duo became the talk of the town. It was an instant hit, earning them gigs at top events, media houses, and road shows.
Despite the fame, the 41-year-old mother of two confesses that she has had to fight a lot of challenges to get to where she is. Her marriage which she describes as toxic had just collapsed when Murimi showed up.
"He came at the right time because when he approached me my marriage had just ended and I was in a state of quagmire," she says.
Wambui further reveals that her friendship with Riggy G started before the second in command got the top seat.
"In 2013, when Uhuru Kenyatta was campaigning for the top seat in Nyahururu, Wa Kahalf, his band and I crashed the event. Fans started shouting my nickname, prompting Uhuru to invite us on stage to perform. Enthused by our performance, he gave us Sh50,000. From there, we started meeting and interacting with politicians, including Riggy G, who offered me a job 10 years later," she says.
Although life is good, Wambui says she still faces drawbacks, as she continues to be a victim of curious onlookers and unfair judgments, but that hasn't deflated her or lowered her self-esteem.
"I have gotten used to it. In matatus, I pay for two seats. At a dowry event, I was given a table to sit on which I happily accepted because I could have smashed the plastic seat to pieces," she chuckles.
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