Secret's out: Mike and Ruth are an item

Saturday, 30 April 2011 00:03 BY JAMES MURUA

LOVE BIRDS: Michael Ranneberger and partner Ruth Konchella.

Ruth Konchellah was flustered as she stood at the podium to address guests who attended outgoing US ambassador Michael Ranneberger's farewell party at his Muthaiga home on Thursday night. For starters, someone had misplaced her speech and she was therefore going to have to talk on the fly.
Secondly, there was the buzz of expectation that finally she would put to rest the public speculation that she and Ranneberger were more than just close friends.
She did not disappoint. Ruth spoke about her charity Cherish Others which aims at fighting against the continued practice of female genital mutilation especially in her home, Narok.
She told guests how she first met 'Michael' who was invited to take part in a seven kilometre run in aid of the charity. Not only did Michael flag off and take part in the race, his involvement also attracted international interest in the charity's work of trying to stamp out the circumcision of girls.
For the ambassador, his participation in the race was just one way of showing his appreciation for the people and culture of the Masai which had interested him for years. Indeed, his first trip outside the city after he was posted to Kenya was to Enoosaen village in Transmara where he received 14 cows from the community as a symbol of support for the US people following the September 11,2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. He has since gone back several times to offer education scholarships for the region's brightest students as well as helping with the charity.
But its only in recent months that the two have been spotted in public together giving rise to speculation that they were not only an 'item' but that he had even paid dowry to her family.
The attendance of a function in Narok by Ruth and  Ranneberger's daughter from a previous marriage fuelled more speculation about the relationship.  Reports of dowry payment were quickly squashed by some members of the extended Konchellah clan and he couple has since remained tight-lipped on their association. Ranneberger studiously refused to comment on the relationship during a farewell interview he granted to the Star last weekend.
On Thursday night Ruth Konchellah confirmed that she and Micheal were partners. “The nation of Kenya loves you and I love you Your Excellency,” she said as the diplomat blushed a deep red colour before hugging and kissing her in front of the gathered guests who seemed taken aback before they enthusiastically applauded the couple.
So? Are the two getting married, going to live together or will their relationship be a long distance? All Ruth could say was that she would make regular visits to the US.