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Mariga’s ex-girlfriend gets engaged to Rwandese tycoon


Kenyan football star McDonald Mariga’s former long time girlfriend Ariane Umutoni got engaged last weekend, Nairobi News can exclusively reveal.

The Rwandan beauty queen formally announced her engagement to in Kigali on Saturday.

The new man in the picture, only known to us as Phil, is said to be a “loaded” financial consultant based in Rwanda’s capital Kigali.

And in a bid to announce their union in style, Phil threw a lavish traditional engagement bash for Ariane – who is rumoured to be expectant – alongside her friends and family at an exclusive Kigali hotel.

The event cost millions of shillings, with Ariane inviting several of her Kenyan friends.

The engagement ceremony closed the chapter to a colourful seven year relationship between Mariga and Ariane, which started at around 2008.

LEFT: Mariga and Ariane during happier times.RIGHT: Ariane poses with Mariga's brother Thomas Wanyama.
LEFT: Mariga and Ariane during happier times.RIGHT: Ariane poses with Mariga’s brother Thomas Wanyama.

Mariga had at one time travelled to Rwanda together with his mother and aunties in mid -2010, for an official introductory ceremony where he is understood to have “deposited some dowry”.

SPENT MILLIONS

The couple turned heads during their time together in Nairobi, and at one point Mariga, who has been based in Italy since 2008, is said to have spent millions of shillings to purchase her an engagement ring and a car.

McDonald Mariga (second right) with his siblings and West African partner Hawa (right). PHOTO |M COURTESY
McDonald Mariga (second right) with his siblings and West African partner Hawa (right). PHOTO |M COURTESY

The relationship however soured at around mid 2013 particularly with the entrance of Hawa (left in the picture above), thought to be of West African decent, into Mariga’s life.

Mariga and his new catch, who is also based in Italy, later had a daughter named Kenisha.

Mariga with his three year-old daughter Kenisha. PHOTO | COURTESY
Mariga with his three year-old daughter Kenisha. PHOTO | COURTESY

A heartbroken Ariane, having graduated at Daystar University, eventually walked out on Mariga leaving behind  the car and and string of other expensive gifts.

She relocated to Rwanda where it now seems the real love of her life awaited her while Mariga is struggling to find a club after his erstwhile employer Parma FC was declared bankrupt.