Citizen TV’s leading news anchor, Lulu Hassan, has shared a deeply personal and nostalgic message to celebrate her husband’s 44th birthday.
The tribute to her fellow anchor, Rashid Abdallah, offers a rare glimpse into the couple’s difficult journey from poverty to becoming household names in Kenya.
Lulu Hassan used her social media platform to honour her husband on his milestone birthday. Her message focused heavily on the “lean seasons” the couple endured long before they found success in the media industry.
Humble Beginnings and “Zero Shillings”
The couple’s early years were defined by significant financial hardship. Lulu recalled a time when they were simply “two dreamers” with “zero shillings” to their names. During this period, the couple struggled to make ends meet and frequently faced the threat of eviction.
Lulu described their early life as a period of “eating hope for dinner.” She reflected on the nights they spent praying that their rent payments would be delayed by just one more day.
“I’m sitting here thinking about where we started — two dreamers, zero shillings to our names, eating hope for dinner and praying rent would wait one more day,” she wrote.
Despite the lack of material wealth, she noted that Abdallah’s kindness never wavered as he worked to build a foundation for their future.
From Struggle to Stability
Lulu’s message highlighted Abdallah’s transformation from a young man with “big dreams” into a figure of stability for his family. She praised him for turning his past struggles into a “testimony” and for providing a safe love.
As a father, Abdallah is described as a primary role model for their children. Lulu stated that he shows their kids what a man looks like.
“4 years of you on this earth, and I’ve had the privilege of doing life with you. I watched you turn “nothing” into a home, into stability…. You show our kids what a man looks like. You show me what safe love feels like.”
Her tribute ended with a powerful message of enduring commitment, stating, “I still choose you.”
Lulu Hassan and Rashid Abdallah are celebrated as Kenya’s most prominent media power couple. They made history as the first married duo to anchor a national news bulletin together. They currently host the 7 p.m. Swahili news, Nipashe Wikendi, on Citizen TV.
The pair first met while working at Radio Salaam in Mombasa. Rashid has often told the story of being captivated by Lulu’s voice before they ever met in person. They eventually married in a traditional ceremony in 2007.
Lulu’s message concluded with a wish for “more life, more laughter, more grace, and more wins”. She expressed her deep gratitude for the life they have built together, finishing her note with the phrase “Alhamdullilah” (Praise be to God).
