DNK International Nairobi gubernatorial hopeful and former Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera has shared a humorous personal story from his days as a student at Stanford University, revealing how a youthful romantic disappointment later became a source of amusement.
Nyakera, who previously served as a Principal Secretary during the administration of former President Mwai Kibaki and later chaired the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), recounted having a crush on a Lebanese graduate student named Maya while pursuing his studies at Stanford.
According to Nyakera, the two spent considerable time together, leading him to hope their friendship might develop into a romantic relationship.
However, one evening after unsuccessfully trying to reach Maya throughout the day, he decided to visit the Graduate Lounge on campus at around 8 p.m. There, he said, he found her in what he described as a “very cozy position” with Larry Page, who would later become the co-founder of Google and one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.
At the time, Nyakera admitted feeling disappointed by the discovery.
Years later, however, the experience has become a source of humor. Reflecting on the incident, Nyakera joked that his feelings had softened considerably given Page’s remarkable success.
“At the time, I was deeply disappointed in Maya. Today, with Larry worth about $294 billion, I have decided to forgive her,” he quipped.
The light-hearted anecdote has generated amusement among social media users, many noting the extraordinary twist of fate involving one of the world’s most successful technology entrepreneurs.
Nyakera is currently considered among the figures positioning themselves for Nairobi’s gubernatorial contest, while continuing to engage in public policy and governance discussions.
