Kenyan Journalist Wangu Kanuri is a young woman who ticks off a few special boxes. Apart from being a twin, she was born on one of the rarest birthdays in the world – Christmas Day. Sharing a birthday with her twin and baby Jesus has challenged Wangu’s sense of individuality over the years. She talks of her journey to self-discovery and learning to carve out her own space.

Ever wondered what it is like to celebrate your birthday on Christmas Day? For soon-to-be 28-year-old human interest journalist Wangu Kanuri, this is her reality. Wangu has navigated her life in the unique shadow of the holiday cheer that overshadows individual celebrations. Through her unique journey, she’s developed a strong sense of self, defining her path and identity in a world that often forgets her birthday amid Christmas festivities.

According to reports, about 385,000 babies are born daily worldwide, but Christmas Day is among the least common birthdates. Roughly 0.27 percent of annual births happen on December 25th, meaning approximately 104,000 babies globally share this unique birthday yearly.

Some of the reasons for this low number include fewer scheduled births due to medical staff availability and avoidance of elective deliveries during the holidays, leading to lower birth rates on Christmas and New Year’s Day in countries with advanced healthcare systems.

Wangu is the youngest in a family of four. She has a twin sister, Wambui, affectionately known as Boboh, who is a virtual assistant by profession. Although Boboh was born only three seconds earlier, she insists on her place as the third-born, a running joke that Wangu has accepted.

“Boboh loves that position,” she says, adding, “It’s funny because, in her mind, those three seconds make her the ‘older sibling’ in every sense.”

Wangu’s Christmas Day birthday carries a story that speaks volumes about family, fate, and the unexpected. Her mother’s due date was initially set for January 7, 1997, and doctors had told her she was carrying a single baby in a breech position.

Just before Christmas, on 23 December, Wangu’s Aunt Emma Waithira dreamed that her eldest sister, Wangu’s mother, would give birth to twins. At the time, Wangu’s parents already had two young children, aged two and one, and her mother brushed off the dream. However, in the early hours of Christmas morning in 1996, her mother’s water broke, and she was taken to the hospital. By 8:00 a.m., Wangu and her twin were born via C-section.

As the anaesthesia wore off in the ward, Wangu’s mother, Marion, overheard another woman telling her family that she had given birth to twins. At first, she didn’t believe it was her own story. But soon, the doctor confirmed the news while congratulating her on the birth of her twin daughters. The family, who had prepared for only one baby, had to buy an extra set of clothes to welcome the unexpected arrival of twins on Christmas Day.

For Wangu, holidays were always filled with family and tradition. Her family would visit her grandmother and great-grandmother in Kirinyaga, where her grandmother cooked an array of special dishes, while her great-grandmother taught them Kikuyu words.

“I remember those days vividly. My great-grandmother would have us cracking macadamia nuts. To us, kids, that was the highlight. It made us feel special and connected to our roots,” says Wangu.

Growing up as a twin added flavour to Wangu’s life experience. She and her twin sister were inseparable, sharing in each other’s mischief and always sticking up for one another.

“Boboh and I were like a team. If we got into trouble and one of us was scolded, we’d instantly make up and go back to playing as if nothing happened. We were inseparable,” she recalls.

They were partners in everything, including their early cooking experiments, like the time they attempted to deep fry potatoes without knowing they had to be boiled first. They shared the undercooked meal and kept it a little secret. “It wasn’t the best meal, but it was special because we had prepared it,” she says.

She was not initially a high-performing student during her early school days, but her academic trajectory changed when she joined her sister at the Master Education Center (MEC), a boarding school in Kirinyaga County, where she repeated Class Seven. Sharing this chapter with her twin sister made the experience easier.

“Having Boboh by my side made everything bearable,” she reflects. However, separating from her twin in high school proved to be crucial in helping Wangu form her own identity. Wangu attended Naromoru Girls, while her twin went to Tumutumu Girls. Naromoru turned out to be more comfortable because her elder sister, Wangui, was already there to help her settle in during her first term.

The loving duo shared birthday celebrations until five years ago when Wangu made it a point to focus the day on herself. She has learned to create birthday moments just for herself, making sure her Christmas birthday feels as special as any other. Together with her fiancé, she has established a tradition of celebrating her birthday – first, in an intimate setting before joining other family gatherings later in the day.

“Back then, our birthday was easily swept under the carpet as everyone was fixated on Christmas, and it never felt great,” Wangu shares, adding that now she is intentional about setting time aside to celebrate her milestones and reflect on the past year.

“I’ve learned that the best gift I can give myself is time to reflect and celebrate my journey,” she explains.

Her fiancé makes her day special by surprising her with thoughtful gestures, and even though she’s allergic to eggs, she always makes sure to have a cake to mark the occasion. The symbolic cake has become a significant birthday tradition.

Something that Wangu is proud of, especially because it speaks to her individuality, is her career in journalism, which was driven by her passion for the Swahili language, a love that took root in primary school. After spending four years out of school after her KCSE examinations due to some undisclosed family issues, Wangu found work at a media house in Thika and also started her own crocheting baby clothes business.

In 2018, she joined Daystar University, where she pursued a BA in Communications with a major in Electronic Media and a minor in Swahili. Her enthusiasm for the language saw her lead the Swahili Club in high school and later become the Swahili editor for her university publication, Involvement.

“Swahili feels like home,” she says, adding, “Every word I write in Swahili feels like I’m preserving a piece of my culture.”

Reflecting on this journey, she is grateful for the four-year break from school which gave her the experience and motivation she needed to thrive when in university. “If I hadn’t had those years, I don’t think I would have approached university with the same determination,” she says.

Today, Wangu is engaged to the love of her life and is working as a bilingual journalist at Nation Media, writing for publications such as the Daily Nation. She proudly crafts human interest stories in both English and Swahili, using humour to connect with her audience. Receiving confidential messages of appreciation from readers has been a fulfilling validation of her work.

“It’s those messages from readers that keep me going. Knowing my words resonate with people makes all the difference,” she acknowledges.

Beyond journalism, Wangu is a skilled crocheter; She also writes Swahili poems and has a manuscript filled with her verses. Additionally, Wangu enjoys making crossword puzzles and finds joy in the creative process of designing them. She is a crime thriller enthusiast who loves diving into both books and shows that explore mystery and suspense.

“There’s something about solving a mystery that excites me. I love piecing clues together, whether it’s in a book or a show,” she reveals.

If Wangu could write a letter to her younger self, it would be coloured with words of pride and encouragement. She would remind herself to stay resilient through life’s hurdles and to trust in God’s faithfulness.

“I’d tell her that no matter how hard things get, keep your heart pure. The world may throw challenges your way, but don’t lose your kindness,” she says thoughtfully.

As she anticipates turning 28, Wangu is both excited and a little nervous about stepping closer to 30. This season of life, she knows, brings new responsibilities and challenges, but she’s ready for the journey ahead.

An ideal Christmas and birthday celebration for her includes being surrounded by close friends and family and enjoying their company in a small gathering.

“At the end of the day, what matters most is being around people who love you,” she reflects.

Looking forward to each new year, she remains open to the evolution of her traditions, adapting as her life changes and she continues to grow. and birthday celebration for her includes being surrounded by close friends and family and enjoying their company in a small gathering.“At the end of the day, what matters most is being around people who love you,” she reflects.Looking forward to each new year, she remains open to the evolution of her traditions, adapting as her life changes and she continues to grow.

This article was originally published in Issue 440. Click HERE to read the full issue.

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