Gospel firebrand Justina Syokau has left fans in stitches—and disbelief—after revealing the “budget” beginnings of her past romantic life.
Speaking in a candid interview with Alex Mwakideu on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the ‘Twendi Twendi’ hitmaker detailed how she was swept off her feet by a man who met her on a Friday and “engaged” her by Saturday.
The price of her commitment? A mere Ksh300 ring sourced from the bustling, gritty streets of Nairobi’s River Road.
“He took me out that weekend and bought me a ring at Dubois. I didn’t even know Nairobi then,” Justina shared, laughing at her younger self. “Later I found out it was fake. It cost three hundred shillings.”
Justina, who was only 19 at the time, described her former partner—then 34—as a clever strategist who knew exactly how to exploit her youthful naivety.
She noted that while most people are taught to look for “red flags,” her suitor was an expert at showing only “white flags” to mask his true nature.
“Si tunafikiri ako sawa kumbe ni sinema (We thought he was okay, but it was just a movie),” she explained.
“A man who wants to marry you won’t show you red flags; he shows you the white one every day.”
The singer admitted she was “young and knew nothing,” even revealing that she had turned down “prominent suitors” to be with the man who eventually presented her with the cheap jewelry.
The engagement was so sudden that it sent shockwaves through her social circle and family.
Within just two weeks of meeting, the couple had already conducted “ushago” (rural home) visits to meet both sets of parents.
However, one member of the family wasn’t buying the “fairytale.” Justina’s grandmother (Shosho) voiced immediate concerns, noting that the age gap and the speed of the romance were worrying.
“My Shosho said I was too small to be married. I was 19 going on 20, and he was 34. The family was shocked,” Justina recalled.
Reflecting on the relationship years later, the mother-of-one views the experience as a cautionary tale for young women.
She described her ex-partner’s behavior as a series of “calculated movements” designed to secure a marriage before she was old enough to know better.
Today, Justina—who has previously made headlines for seeking a “billionaire” husband—says she finally understands the importance of dating and truly knowing someone before making a commitment.
“Every time we met, he was good. He read me,” she said.
“Now I understand these things. You have to date somebody, to be taken out.”
