'My husband stood me up on our first date,' US Ambassador Meg Whitman reveals

US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman has disclosed that during her varsity years, her sister set her up on a date with her now husband, Dr. Griffith R. Harsh IV, who regrettably failed to honour the invitation.

In an interview with TV47, Whitman noted that her sister had invited Dr. Harsh, a neurosurgeon by profession now, to her wedding but owing to a familial engagement, the good doctor did not grace the event.

"My sister invited him to her wedding and I wrote on the invitation 'Yes, you should definitely come to the wedding' and what happened was his brother was in town and they ended up going out for dinner," said Whitman.

"At about 11 o'clock he looked at his watch and thought 'there was something I was supposed to do tonight' and he did not show up for the wedding. He stood me up."

Recognizing his mistake, Dr. Harsh phoned Whitman the next day, apologizing for failing to turn up while simultaneously asking her for a second chance.

Whitman was initially reluctant but she eventually gave Dr. Harsh another opportunity, primarily swayed by his killer looks.

"The next day he called and said there's such great things we could do together; I want to give you the choice and I'm so sorry. I was like 'I don't know' then I said I'd give him another chance because he was pretty cute," said the giggling Whitman.

"I did notice that he didn't show up but then I thought things happen."  

Dr. Harsh did not fumble the ball again and the rest, as they say, is history.

"We got married when I was 23; we'll be married for 43 years this summer.  We have two boys who are now aged 38 and 35," she said.

"I have three grandkids, two boys and a girl. The oldest will be five this coming summer, the next one will be three in about three days and then there is a little girl who is turns one at the end of November."

Despite never having worked as an Ambassador before, Whitman says that her husband was very supportive when she was announced as the new US envoy to Kenya in July 2022.

"My husband has been tremendous support, the most important decision you make is who you decide to partner up with and you make it when you are very young," she said.

"It means a lot that my husband chose to come here with me. You always need a supportive spouse and we've always supported each other over the years. Sometimes I've moved for him other times he's moved for me."

"We have hiked Mount Longonot which was really fun, we have gone to the Mara, and we love to walk and hike," she revealed.