Popularly known as Connie Kabarry, Consolate Mboga has built her career from the depths of what many would generally acknowledge as a tough background.
Born and raised in Kenya, the award-winning actress plies her trade in Nigeria's film industry, Nollywood. This has enabled her to engage with renowned actors from across the continent, notably, John Okafor alias Mr Ibu.
In a 2018 interview with the Standard's Eve Woman, Connie narrates the turbulences that rocked her early life and how she outmanoeuvred them.
At the age of 14, her family lost their father, Richard Francis, who was their sole breadwinner at the time something that forced her to drop out of school. Her mother, Angela Mwikali, could only afford to put one of them through school.
Unfortunately, her mother's income fell short of satisfying the family's needs. Connie intimated that her family received aid in getting by from an elderly family friend and help from the church in paying rent.
From the little Connie's mother could raise managing her kiosk and a few other side hustles, she was able to put her through Form One.
After a while, the 'family friend' offered to take care of her whole family with the price being given her hand in marriage. Out of desperation, her mother conceded to the proposal and asked Connie to consider it. She revealed that the man was close to 15 years older than her.
He took her back to school, at Changamwe Girls Day School closer to his home and rented out a place for her family. Though she lived with her mother, she would also spend time with him when he asked. At 16, she conceived and had to drop out of school in Form Three.
After her first child, Connie was later asked by her mother to move in with the man and live as husband and wife. She revealed that though they had several disparities, she did it for her family.
"I didn’t want to disappoint my mother and siblings who depended entirely on the man for most of their daily needs. In 2004, I conceived and gave birth to my second child," Connie narrated.
Their marriage was full of ups and downs, including several physical fights to the point she entertained the idea of a murder-suicide involving her and her children. Sadly, her mother passed on, five months after the birth of her second born.
She worked odd jobs, operating a kiosk and selling charcoal to try and keep her family together, however, efforts to try and salvage her marriage were unfruitful, and in 2009, she opted out. Connie moved with her children to Lolwe estate, in Kisumu to try and start a new life.
Her break in life came when she had visited her elder sister in Mombasa, who asked Connie to accompany her to a club where she met her now-husband, Kevin Omondi Migot popularly known as Dola Kabarry. He is a Nairobi-based Benga musician and was in Mombasa to perform at the time.
Connie was introduced to the musician by her sister after the party, and a while later, he got in contact with her asking her out.
"One day, I received a call from Dola. We went on a date and he confessed to me that he was in a dead relationship and was in the process of divorcing his estranged wife. I felt I had finally met someone who understood what I was going through," Connie conceded.
"In 2012, Dola proposed to me. Later, after paying the bride price, he took up the responsibility of my children. He made sure they attended school and paid their school fees," she added.
Connie had intimated to her husband the desire she bore for acting and being a loving husband, above all a best friend, he introduced her to a number of Kenyans film producers, actors, and actresses. Though she did not get much out of the first few engagements, she never gave up.
In may 2017 she contacted a family friend she identified as Nelson Socheere who was on a trip to Nigeria and informed him of her passion for acting, and boom, the doors opened. He introduced her to Ibu.
"My great moment came in May last year when I contacted a Kenyan family friend, Nelson Sechere, who was on a visit to Nigeria. Little did I know that he was a close ally of Nigerian actor and comedian John Okafor, Mr. Ibu," Connie revealed.
"As soon as I informed him of my interest to feature in a Nollywood movie, he introduced me to Mr Ibu who invited me over to the country’s Enugu State to audition for a film role alongside actors Kenneth Okonkwo and Nkem Owoh," She added.
Since then, her career has been on the rise. She featured alongside talented actors from Africa's largest film industry and in 2018, her very own produced movie, Almost Perfect, debuted on February 2, 2018.
Shot in Nigeria's Enugu state, the film features popular Nigerian actors Nonso Diobi, Chiege Alisigwe, and Dougad. This earned her a nomination for the 2018 'Nollywood Excellence and Leadership Awards' (NELA).
Connie has had the privilege of starring in a film alongside Mr. Ibu and Nkem Owoh popularly known as Ousofia.
