Marriage hubamba mafala: Why Debby Ronoh’s hot take has millennials rushing to defend the aisle
Chebet Ronoh has once again reminded everyone why she is one of the most polarising voices online.
In a clip that has since gone viral on the internet, the unapologetic content creator casually said, “Marriage hubamba mafala.” Roughly translated as, “marriage is for fools”, and it quickly turned into a bombshell that ignited generational wars with millennials fiercely defending the aisle and Gen Z’s backing Ronoh’s opinion.
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It was the kind of one-liner that social media was never going to ignore. By the time the sun went down, reaction videos were everywhere, and memes were spreading like wildfire.
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TikTokers such as Steve Collins, alias Wakaniaru University, and influencers Ntazola Gloria, Mama Boyz and Badgyal Yasa argued that Ronoh had simply voiced what many quietly believe but fear saying out loud.
They cited examples of toxic marriages, partners staying together out of financial pressure, and the rise of unions built more on optics than love. To them, Ronoh was not being cruel; she was being honest about a reality that younger people are increasingly confronting.
“You cannot tell me anything because Ronoh spoke the truth. Marriage excites fools. That is just the truth. And I see you are all very angry because she said that, but I do not see why you are angry. Is it that you were touched in a sore place?” Wakaniaru University stated.
“Ronoh said marriage excites fools, and is that not the truth. You are in that marriage for what reason, food like vegetables and ugali? A grown woman like you cannot feed yourself, and that is why you are in marriage. You want a man to feed you. You saw that man had a small fridge, and you ran there. You saw he has a television of 85 inches that you cannot buy for yourself, and that is why you stuck there,” she said.
But the backlash was louder. Married couples and those aspiring to join the club took to their platforms to defend the institution with passion. Videos of smiling spouses, anniversary celebrations and baby milestones flooded TikTok, each one captioned with variations of “This is what marriage really looks like” or “Don’t let bitter people fool you.” Others made parody responses, mocking Ronoh’s statement with jokes about how single life is not as glamorous as influencers make it seem.
Let’s talk about how Ronoh’s unpopular opinion about marriage has more than just a few feathers ruffled.
Tradition
Millennials and Gen Zs who have embraced the union of marriage bristled at her comment. Unlike many young people, who are still largely exploring their twenties, millennials are at the stage of life where marriage is front and centre. They are planning weddings, raising young families, or already celebrating ten years in unions. To them, marriage is not an outdated joke. It is a choice they have invested their emotions, time, and savings into.
Culture
In Kenya, marriage is not just a personal milestone; it is a communal expectation. Parents and relatives still see it as a marker of maturity, stability, and respect. Religious traditions uphold it as a sacred covenant. So when Ronoh dismissed it so casually, many heard more than a personal opinion. They heard a rejection of values that entire communities are built around. Defending marriage, therefore, became less about arguing with a celebrity and more about protecting a symbol that people still take seriously.
Survival mode
In a world where relationships have become transactional, settling with someone because life is hard is really not a bad idea. Millennials are navigating tough realities, high living costs, job insecurity, and social pressures. Most argue that marriage, for them, is about partnership in surviving these challenges. They pointed out that far from being for fools, it is often the smartest way to pool resources, raise children, and build generational wealth. In their eyes, Ronoh’s comment ignored the sacrifices and strategic choices that keep households afloat.
