![Singer Ben Pol says he did not know that his fiancée, Anerlisa Muigai, was a multi-millionaire, when he met her in Nairobi in early 2018. [PHOTO | FILE]](https://i0.wp.com/www.k24tv.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BEN-POL.jpg?resize=730%2C414&ssl=1)
Tanzanian musician Ben Pol says he did not know that his fiancée, Anerlisa Muigai, was a multi-millionaire, when he met her in Nairobi in early 2018.
Speaking to Tanzania’s Clouds FM on Thursday, January 23, Ben Pol said it took him “long to know that Anerlisa is wealthy”.
The Moyo Mashine star said he met the Nero CEO in early 2018 at a press conference that was organised by the businesswoman’s friend in Nairobi.
“After addressing journalists at the briefing, I found myself and Anerlisa left alone in the hall,” she said.
“I did not know who she was; I did not know whether she was a multi-millionaire. I was only attracted to her because she was beautiful,” said Ben Pol.
The R&B singer and Anerlisa, thereafter, exchanged contacts, he said.
“We would have normal conversations on phone. In one week, we would communicate two or four times,” said Ben Pol.
The artiste said he would often plan trips to Nairobi to meet Anerlisa, and the businesswoman, on her end, would reciprocate by travelling to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“When I met Anerlisa, at first, I did not harbour any love intentions towards her,” said Ben Pol, adding: “Much later, I came to fall in love with the person that she was – her character, charisma and aura”.
“It took me too long to know that she was the daughter of a billionaire [Tabitha Karanja]. It also took me too long to know that she is the CEO of a water-bottling company Nero,” he said.
“I thank God that, when I first met her, I did not bother to know what she did for a living, because if I did, I would have automatically boxed myself into the temptation of faking my lifestyle. I am glad she saw and fell in love with the real Ben Pol, and not a faker of lifestyle.”
Asked to reveal who between him and Anerlisa first expressed his or her feelings towards the other, Ben Pol said: “We both did.”
“I remember we were in Dar es Salaam, where I held her arm, she held mine, I hugged her, she hugged back. I kissed her, she kissed back, and I immediately knew there was chemistry between us.”
The musician said he has already paid dowry for Anerlisa, which includes “hundreds of cattle”.
“We are planning to tie the knot formally and start a family,” he said.
In September last year, Ben Pol came out to claim his wedding plans Anerlisa Muigai, were on course, contrary to the then-online rumours that they had put the arrangements on hold.
Speaking to Tanzania’s Ijumaa newspaper, Ben Pol, 30, said despite proposing to Anerlisa, 31, in April 2019, and pressure mounting on him to exchange wedding vows with the Nero CEO, the two were taking their time to ensure that sufficient arrangements are made.
“What many do not understand is that when it comes to planning a wedding, privacy should be paramount. Not everything should be announced online. So, I’ll urge those pressurising us to wed to be patient and see what the outcome of our relationship will be. And when we tie the knot, they will still know, given a wedding is something that you can’t do in secrecy,” Ben Pol told the publication.
“Currently, I am in the process of putting things right, but if you’re asking if the wedding plans are still on, the answer is: ‘yes, they are’,” added Ben Pol.
The couple began dating in late 2018.
Anerlisa Muigai is the daughter of billionaire businesswoman, Tabitha Karanja, the founder of Keroche Breweries Limited.
Ben Pol, on the other hand, is a gifted R&B musician from Tanzania, known for his popular hit songs Moyo Mashine and Muziki featuring his compatriot, rapper Darassa.
