President William Ruto’s press secretary Emmanuel Talam on Wednesday cracked up mourners after he confessed that he once thought the late Rita Tinina was going to be his wife.
Speaking at her funeral, Talam who made the remarks shortly before reading the President’s speech said this happened when they joined college at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication.
“I wish Eric Latif was here because I have to make some confession before we bury Rita and my good friend and brother Robert take no offense. When Rita came to KIMC, we joined at the same time, same day, same class, I thought she was going to be my wife,” he said.
He went on to say that while he played his cards to try to win her over, the late Tinina told him to stop rushing.
Talam said that Tinina then told him that they should focus on their studies and that he will eventually find another wife.
“She was so beautiful, she was brown and she was Maasai so I thought I had found a wife but one day aliona nimekuja sana akaniambia young man wacha haraka you will get another wife tusome kwanza.”
Talam further confessed that he went to the extent of sending a special dedication in the form of a song on the now-defunct Metro Radio.
“I remember we had a very special program on Metro Radio called Love Zone it was done by Eric Latif. I have come to confess that I am the anonymous guy who sent Rita a special song,” he said as mourners burst into a hearty laugh.
Talam said the song is known as “From a Distance.”
He added, “A song that I have found out today makes a lot of sense and very symbolic. From a distance. From a distance, Rita has gone to rest, she has gone to be with the Lord and we thank God for her.”
Talam was accompanied by Dennis Itumbi who also works at the presidency.
