GET TO KNOW MAKENA NJERI: CAREER, FAMILY, LOVE & SCANDALS

Christine Njeri also known as Chris Makena Njeri is a Kenyan actress turned producer famed for her role on Citizen TV’s Tahidi High Show. She also starred in numerous films including a short Kikuyu movie where she played a naive Kamba village girl.

As a producer, she worked for Nation Media Group’s NTV where she produced and directed Teen Republik. Makena also worked with BBC as a news reporter before quitting in March 2020 after three years at the international media house.

In an Instagram post, she informing her fans of her exit, as well as what she hopes for her next assignment. “Every beautiful story has a beginning and a powerful ending. This has been my journey working at the BBC for the last three years! I have been built as a journalist in a way I never imagined.

Challenged to think differently and talk to a global audience in every story I reported on. I worked on a program BBC What’s New that inspires the youth in Africa to reach for the stars and everything is possible through the stories we told,” she wrote in part.

A few months later, Makena started a foundation dubbed Bold Network Africa that is committed to telling inspiring African stories. “Africa is Bold. 🏳️‍🌈 It’s time to understand that there is nothing Un African about being queer. Living your truth is the most authentic way. It’s our time to be Bold and tell our stories to a global audience! This is our mission as bold Network join the tribe. #boldnetwork.”

Love life

In January 2021, Makena pulled a surprise move after putting up a social media post detailing how much she loves Marini Naturals CEO Michelle Ntalami.  In the post, the media personality poured her heart out saying she no longer cares what other people say about their relationship.

“Thank you for your love, thank you for your courage, thank you for your truth, thank you for your friendship and thank you for your pure soul Michelle Ntalami. The universe has taken so many years and months to decide what we are for each other but today I stand tall acknowledging that our love and friendship is enough to define us, nothing else matters.

Our generation will read about our spirited hearts to support each other through the happiest days and the hardest days. If there is anything I learnt this year was love and loyalty wins, no matter what.

Thank you for our quarantine bonding moments, thank you for my best birthday ever thank you for your wisdom and most of all for reminding me every day that God is always by our side as long as we do right by humanity and Him! To another beautiful new year may we keep inspiring and being true. Michelle Ntalami Queen,” she wrote.

On Ntalami’s birthday on June 23, 2020, Makena penned a romantic birthday message vowing to spend the rest of her life with Ntalami, further promising to make her happy and love her unconditionally. “Michelle darling, I don’t know what I did right in my life to make the universe bring such an angel into my life, but I’m definitely going to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you make me feel.

How long has it been since the first time we met? It may have been just a few years but to me it feels like a blur. I guess that’s what happens when you’re having so much fun with someone you love that you completely lose track of time. I know I have matured and grown together with you. This is your special day and I want you to enjoy every minute of it.

Whatever you need, I’m at your beck and call. If you need a foot rub, a back rub, someone to take you shopping and spoil you silly, or just someone to drive you around town, I’m your person. This year, I want to make you feel like the princess you truly are.

I want to make you feel like you’re a true goddess who deserves all the love I give to you. Of course, you can push your luck on this day because it’s your birthday (however you know I will always give you whatever you want),” she wrote.

In a separate Instagram post, Makena said that she has experienced the most beautiful love life with Ntalami, revealing how she gets carried away when she gazes at Ntalami’s pictures.

Scandals

Away from love, Makena has had her fair share of scandals, in July 2019, she made headlines after photos of her vandalized Mercedes Benz surfaced online. At the time, Makena was accused of cheating on her partner Valentine Nyokabi. Later, photos of Makena and Nyokabi surfaced fueling up the dating rumours. The vehicle had graffiti text that read, “Makena cheater” on both doors of the left side and ‘F**k You” on the bonnet.

Family

Speaking in a past interview, Makena disclosed that she was raised in an abusive family. She said her father was struggling with alcoholism, at the time and he would abuse her mother most of the time.  She added that the behaviour made Makena resent her father to the point that after her mother’s death, she did not talk to him for two years. It wasn’t until her father was on his deathbed thats she visited him after being convinced by her brother.