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Phillip Masinde, 84, first met his wife Teresa at a wedding ceremony in Kakamega. They were both guests.
After the wedding, they lost touch but reconnected a few months later during a ceremony to honour the late Cardinal Maurice Otunga in Kakamega.
"We first met in 1956 at a friend's wedding that we both attended. After the event, we both went our separate ways and we later met again during Cardinal Otunga's event in Kakamega. There, we started our love journey and the rest is history," says Teresa.
The former Labour minister, who served during retired President Daniel arap Moi's time and was Nambale MP for two terms, says he was attracted to Teresa because of her humility and dedication to church.
"Seeing her commitment to God's work was a good sign for me and I knew she would be a good wife and mother. She has been committed to the church up to date. After our second meeting, we began dating and planning for the marriage," says the politician.
They both informed their parents about their friendship and dowry negotiations kicked off the following year in July.
Speaking in Buyosi/Bulanda village in Matayos constituency, Teresa says dating was very secretive back then because a girl was expected to be home throughout.
"I came from a strict family in Teso South. My father was Chief Alexander Papa, appointed by the colonial government. Dating was not like it is today. Once a man showed signs he wanted to marry you, he was supposed to inform your parents and plans to marry began immediately,'' says Teresa, a one-time chairperson of Maendeleo ya Wanawake in charge of the western region.
At the time when they were planning to tie the knot, Masinde was a teacher at Kholera Intermediary School in Kakamega while Teresa was teaching at Amukura Girls Primary School in Busia.
The coupled solemnised their union at St. Rose Nelima Parish in Amukura on November 30, 1957. Teresa was 19 and Masinde was 24.
In 1958, they welcomed their first born daughter Fidelis. He was followed by Florence, Margaret, George, Jane, Gladys, Stella, Gaudencia and Regina and the late Andrew. Masinde and Teresa have 19 grandchildren.
Masinde says marrying Teresa was the best decision he made. He says that the journey has had its ups and downs but they have stuck together because of the power of love, prayer, respect and forgiveness.
"I believe I made the right choice and next year we shall mark our 60th anniversary by God's grace. We have had a good life as a married couple and those around us are also happy. It has not been easy but we are still going strong," he says.
"After we got married, I was transferred to Lwak Intermediary School in Asembo where I taught for a year while she continued to teach at Amukura. In 1959, I was posted to Chakol Intermediate School, which was close to home and that was good for our young marriage,'' the former minister recalls.
After three years at Chakol, Masinde left with his young family for further studies in Holland.
"I went to Holland on a Catholic scholarship to study political and social studies. My wife accompanied me and did a diploma in home economics. We came back after independence in 1964,'' says the former Nambale MP.
He adds: "When I came back, I had a five government job offers but I choose to work as a labour officer and career adviser for six years because it was applicable to the political and social science course I had studied overseas. After that, I moved to East Africa Airways as their human resource manager."
In 1988, when he was 55, Masinde joined politics and was elected as Nambale MP, an elective office he held until 1997 during which he also served as Labour minister. It has been 20 years since he left Parliament and Masinde keeps himself busy with church activities by overseeing church development projects. He does charity work and advises aspiring and current politicians.
Teresa's advice to couples is that they should learn to forgive and understand their partner. She cautions women against competing with their men, stressing that it is possible to have a happy marriage if both couples are committed.
"Marriage is very challenging and it is the responsibility of both parties to make it work. Women get into trouble in today's society because they want to compete with men. A lady needs to be a home maker and learn to forgive what cannot be changed," says the mother of 10.
Masinde adds: "Today's generation needs to be observant in marriage, to learn their partners' weaknesses, accept the negatives, consult and understand the responsibilities one is likely to take on from their in-laws. Lastly, they should be ready to forgive and be forgiven. That will take them far."
