Even before the camera started rolling for The Star interview, the real story of Bonnie Kamau, the 424 million Sportpesa mega jackpot winner, was steadily unfolding. Tech crews shuffled, lenses gleamed, and microphones crackled to life, the atmosphere in the studio was nothing short of radiant.
In the middle of it all sat Bonnie, in his late forties, unflappable, the kind of man who wears calm like a well-tailored suit. Seated beside him was Veronica Wahu, his wife, in her mid-40s.
While she was luminous under the studio lights, Bonnie’s eyes found hers, and the room seemed to still. It was not just a glance but a quiet confession of his unwavering love for her.
Talking about their backgrounds, both were an open book. Growing up as the firstborn in a family of four in Nakuru, Bonnie admitted that life was comfortable during his childhood.
“Attributing it to God’s grace, I never lacked what I needed growing up,” he explained.
Though she had a similar upbringing, Veronica revealed she grew up in Maralal, Samburu County, as the sixth born in a family of eight children.
“While growing up, the concept of ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ was foreign—I simply came from a middle-class family that did not struggle financially,” Veronica stated.
Bonnie completed his primary and high school studies in Njoro, while Veronica schooled in Samburu. Like any child, they both had aspirations. For Bonnie, his passion was farming.
“There was an Italian man living in my neighborhood in Njoro. I remember looking at his wheat field and couldn’t see the end of it,” he recalled. Admiring this farm sparked Bonnie’s interest in farming. With the resolve to own a big farm one day, he set his mind on making the dream a reality.
Sharing her childhood dream, Veronica admitted that having a grand and beautiful family home had always been on her bucket list.
“My husband promised to build me a house so luxurious that leaving for errands would make me rush back home,” she said.
Discussing this dream with her husband, they decided to wait patiently for the right cash flow.
“Though he had enough money to build an average house, he told me to be patient because he wanted to build our dream house,” Veronica explained. “We have never conformed to society’s pressure to scrape coins just to move out of a rental—our dream of a big house was never up for compromise.”
How they met
Veronica’s move to Nakuru for college marked the beginning of their relationship. Bonnie, an accountant in the transport business, often interacted with clients planning trips. One day, he saw Veronica travelling to Maralal and was immediately hooked.
“From the first moment I looked at her, I couldn’t deny her attractiveness. I wasn’t going to waste my opportunity, and that’s how our relationship began,” Bonnie said.
At the time, Bonnie’s company was the only means of transport to Maralal. Through her travels and occasional parcels, their encounters became frequent. Over time, their professional interactions blossomed into a romantic relationship.
“After 19 years of a beautiful marriage, I can say it was love at first sight—we just built the chemistry over time,” Bonnie emphasised.
Blessed with three children, they both described parenthood as the greatest blessing. Bonnie is thankful his children have never lacked anything.
“God has always been on my side—our children don’t even know the magnitude of being chased for school fees because I pay in full and on time,” he said.
For Veronica, parenthood made their family feel more complete.
“We enjoy parenting our children and can only thank God for His grace and protection,” she reiterated.
The couple’s personalities differ: Veronica is outspoken and outgoing, while Bonnie is calm and reserved.
“From childhood, I’ve always been different—calmness is second nature,” Bonnie revealed. Interpersonal relations have never been a priority; he considers no more than five friends.
“I’ve never been interested in interacting personally with many people—this has been my lifestyle,” he said.
Veronica noted that their contrasting personalities help balance the relationship. While Bonnie calms her in trying times, she takes charge in social interactions.
“From this interview alone, you can see my husband is reserved; entertaining guests is my domain,” she explained.
In 2022, they started a farming business, stemming from Bonnie’s passion. Instead of buying produce, they decided to grow it themselves.
“When I’m not working at the transport company, I check on our farm with maize, beans, and wheat crops,” Bonnie said.
Veronica, leveraging her extroverted personality, manages the business side, interacting with clients at their cereal shop after leaving a 15-year corporate finance career.
“Now in our fourth year, the experience has been amazing. Our business has steadily grown over the years,” Veronica said.
They both recounted the night after learning Bonnie had won the 424 million jackpot.
“Even though it took me a while to process my win, I still slept normally that night,” Bonnie said.
Veronica, however, was restless, turning and tossing in bed, overwhelmed by what the win meant for their family. She lost her appetite for two days and went three days without proper sleep.
“I remember waking my snoring husband at 5 am for mass—he was not too pleased because mass started at 6:40 am,” she comically stated.
Today, their lives have changed for the better. Smiling ear to ear, their eyes glimmer with hope for the future.
With newfound fame, they decided a holiday was in order.
“I am grateful that out of thousands of people who bet, God chose me. The financial breakthrough we’ve been praying for is finally within reach,” Bonnie remarked.
