State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena's life has had its ups and downs just like everybody else.
Little known to many, Kanze whose complete name is Kellen Beatrice Kanze Dena once suffered depression, even habouring suicidal thoughts after a series of unfortunate events.
Speaking on Reverend Kathy Kiuna's Woman Without Limits in 2015, Kanze narrated that her first run-in with low self-esteem happened while she was studying in Kianjokoma Boarding School in Embu.
Some of the contributions were that she matured faster than her age mates, and had bow-legs which she sought medical help to correct.
She later advanced to Kyeni secondary school and immediately after high school, Kanze worked as a potato peeler, dish washer and finally a waitress in at her grandfather’s hotel in Mombasa.
While working as a waitress, Kanze got pregnant but was too embarrassed to tell her mother so she planned to give the child up for adoption after birth.
She had even met with different organisations which took her through the process of giving up the child to a foster home of foster parents.
The day she planned to deliver and give up the baby, her mother found out from Kanze's friend and went to get her from Pumwani Maternity Hospital. The little girl, Natasha Anzani, passed away three months after delivery.
When her little girl passed on, Kanze sunk into depression and even became suicidal. She felt like the death of Natasha was a punishment for planning to give away her daughter.
"One day I woke up and said I'd had enough. I took a paper bag and put it over my head, tied it and held it, hoping that I would suffocate," she recalled.
Just before Kanze was so good at hiding her depression that those around her barely noticed.
After battling depression for well over a year, the bubbly TV girl enrolled for a Diploma in Mass Communication course at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication.
Fast forward years later, Kanze is leading an exciting life, being a state house insider and an inspiration to many women on how to overcome depression and triumph.
She also recently got married to Nick Mararo at an exclusive wedding at the scenic Ol Pejeta Conservancy and overlooking Mount Kenya.
Together they are raising a boy, Nathaniel Amani.
Watch the Kanze's interview with Kathy Kiuna below.
