Men, marry these Kenyan ladies at your own risk

 Laywers top the list of the ‘undateable’

Your lordship, she was a learned friend, not a wife. Lawyers top the list of both ‘undateable’ and ‘unmarriageable’ women according to Kenyan men surveyed by The Nairobian.

Most men accuse female lawyers of being too opinionated and never ready to settle down. They also grow horns once the money start coming in. A small domestic tiff and they start brandishing FIDA brochures.

“They always have the divorce date in mind besides being difficult to deal with,” Paul Opondo an MA student at the University of Nairobi claims.

It is a claim that most female lawyers refute. Like 27-year old lawyer Beatrice Namunyak who blames men for being weak.

Phanice Kwega, 25, says that lawyers normally receive a bad rap for no good reason arguing thus: “That is a stereotype that should be condemned and not condoned. A good number of my girls got married last year. A good number are in good relationships,” says Kwega, adding: “It takes a man with stamina to hit on a lawyer. They say we are intimidating but I don’t know how to be submissive. While we are tough-headed, we know when to submit, but I can’t date a weak man.”

Another female lawyer who declines to be named adds, “I don’t deny the stereotypes. Of course, there are those who are unbearable and reproachable but not all are that way. There are good female lawyers out here.”

TV girls appeal to kila mtu

 Nanjinia Wamuswa is a print journalist who would not marry his kind, especially broadcast journalists.

“Journalists, especially newsreaders appeal to everyone and eventually only the monied men manage to bag them. Also, their lifestyle might be unsustainable for a mere mortal like me,” he says tongue-in-cheek.

Besides they are public figures and that always can go to their heads, men seem to be persuaded.

Tour guides eye mzungu hubbies, not miros

Men believe they are ‘dangerous’ given the kind of exposure they get out there. “Their career exposes them to different personalities and lifestyles that might force them to start comparing you to those they encounter daily. Which can put you under undue pressure,” notes Paul Ndeda, 30, a programmes officer with an NGO based in Nairobi.

Philip Amutabi, the aforementioned police officer is equally cynical about women in the hospitality industry. “Forget about any woman who studies tours and travel and actually works in the field. They aspire to be married to white men. Same for women studying foreign languages. Besides career advancement, they have other expectations.

Wife cruising at 600, 000 feet

Men are opposed to marrying the air hostesses owing to the demanding nature of their job. For starters, they are too beautiful to be domesticated,” says Charges Douglas Njoroge, a county government official from Central Kenya. Most men speculate that their constant traveling exposes them to numerous adventures they don’t want to imagine, besides exposure to untenable lifestyles.

“They are shopaholics and are used to men who can fund their shopping escapades and unless you have the money and are ready to fund their fast lane life, you have to keep off. In their prime, they are too busy traveling to settle down and raise a family,” Douglas says. They also known to be the side dishes for pilot, flight engineers and frequent flier gold card holders.

Military, yes. KWS, yes. Policewoman, for a wife, no!

Dennis Munyaka, who runs a private travel company, has an aversion for women on the force on moral grounds. “Military, yes. Kenya Wildlife Service, yes. Policewoman, no. I would not risk being in the company of someone whose environment is mostly dishonest, corrupt and uncultured. Every time I am pulled over and messed around with, I will be thinking ‘my wife is doing the same to another soul somewhere else’.

Solomon Koko, an entertainment writer also avows that he cannot marry a policewoman.

“Never. I would date for the thrill, but not settle down with one. They are well trained and can handle firearms. Hell hath no fury like a policewoman scorned,” he says acknowledging the capacity for men to err and offend women.

Other reasons men are opposed to marrying policewomen, is that they have demanding jobs that may not be good for marriage, childbearing and other roles expected of women as per African tradition.

Also, their contact with fellow policemen is deemed too close and can lead to ‘other things’ that might put you in the line of fire - literally.

Sales ladies can’t be trusted

Abel Kiura, a programmes officer with an aid agency says sales ladies have tough jobs. “I don’t trust that career. Given its nature, women sometimes are forced to employ other means that might not go down well with you when you discover them.”

Hairdressers are ‘gossipers’

According to Angeline, who is a hairdresser and a manicurist along Kimathi Street, women in the beauty industry are skeptical towards marriage, given salons are great places for gossip and that is where marriages are mostly diagnosed, when they are on their death bed.

“Many times married women tell us their marital woes and some even admit on cheating their on their husbands, hence our carefree attitudes,” she says, noting that most women in the hair industry are single mothers and have been previously married.

Bouncers, waiters love the bottle

These are frowned upon on two levels. First, they work odd hours, at night mostly, hence might never be available to raise and nurse the kids.

Secondly, they are exposed to other men, who might lead them astray. Also, they might form a drinking habit, yet men would prefer it if their woman never touched alcohol.