For years, society expected men to marry younger women while women settled with older men. But that script has flipped. More older women are openly dating younger men—popularly called cougars, Aunty wa Harrier, or simply mumamas.
These women, mostly in their 40s and above, are financially stable, stylish, and seeking affection. To many young men, they are attractive partners who bring both comfort and excitement.
“They are energetic, lively, and add vigour to our lives,” one woman confessed when asked why older women prefer younger men.
Kenya has seen its fair share of such relationships. The most famous remains the union of Peter Mbugua and the late politician Wambui Otieno, who married in 2003 despite their 42-year age gap.
Their marriage drew criticism, with many accusing Mbugua, a former stonemason, of chasing wealth. But he maintained he was in love. Even so, Wambui’s daughters boycotted the wedding, and his own mother refused to accept Wambui as a daughter-in-law.
When Wambui died, her will left Mbugua a car for his daily use but distributed the rest of her vast estate to her children and grandchildren. Today, Mbugua lives in a small Kitengela room, far from the Karen mansion he once shared with Wambui.
Despite the backlash, their union remains a landmark love story and a reminder that relationships between older women and younger men are now part of Kenya’s dating reality.
