By Kiundu Waweru

Paul Muli, 30, a sprightly, dreadlocked young man, could not keep his hands off his beautiful but unlikely bride, Ruth Wanjiku, 51. They wed on Valentines Day, in a lavish ceremony that drew media attention and got many tongues wagging. And by the pool sprinkled with floating rose petals, at Rock City Hotel along Kiambu Road, they took their marriage vows to a rousing applause from the audience.

The ‘just married’ couple is now back from their honeymoon, but the glint in their eyes betrays their passion.

Ruth Wanjiku is 51, a beautiful real estate magnate, while Paul Muli is her 30-year-old husband, a bubbly and fine-looking model.

The lovebirds do a dance

Ruth and Paul during their wedding

In November 2007, Ruth, who is a Jew and deeply religious, took a three-day prayer and fasting retreat to Mt Kenya. Her agenda: Asking God for a man because she was very lonely.

Back in Nairobi, she visited her friend Pauline at her African wear boutique at 680 Hotel. As Ruth was sharing her story, two men walked in — one of them, a lean, dreadlocked fellow. He looked Ruth straight in the eye, flashed a business card and gave her in a lingering handshake. He asked her to call him sometime, and then walked out.

love at first sight

"Wow! What a pleasantly arrogant man!" the women in the shop exclaimed. The man had not as much as glanced at the other three women in there.

Paul gives his side of the story: "My pal and I had come from 680 Hotel and I was going to buy a shirt. Walking in, I spotted this beautiful woman and, intuitively, I acted. I did not even buy the shirt."

Ruth, on her part, believes in love at first sight. She believes that she can judge someone’s soul at a glance and that she discerned that Paul was a good man. Had her prayers been answered? She says: "When Paul locked eyes with me, I saw he was kind and humble — just the kind of man I had been praying for. When he asked me to call him, I blushed. I was so shocked and scared because I knew that if I called him, he would sweep me off my feet."

Did Paul not see that she was considerably older, and not the likely match for her? What motivated him to make a move? "I was overwhelmed by her beauty. At that moment, I did not notice her age," he remembers.

Well, after the episodic meeting Ruth went about her business. She developed strong feelings for the bold stranger. She narrates: "I would think of him every minute. I was confused and it was not until three weeks later that I gathered courage to call and ask that we meet for a chat."

They wanted it to be a private affair, so they met in her car to talk. At one moment, a disappointed Paul reached for the door and made to leave.

not after money

Says Ruth: "He said that he wanted a simple woman whom he could love, marry and live with." Paul says that he realised that Ruth was wealthy, and that this would always stumble their love.

He explains: "I did not want her to think I was after her money."

A real estate developer, Ruth owns among other residential property, Mt Kenya Herbal Centre that has 14 branches around the country.

"Looking at her stature, I wondered why she had no man in her life. As I was walking out, she held my hand and said she would prove me wrong," says Paul. Ruth confronted him with her fears; that he was leaving because of their age difference, but he vehemently denied. Paul interjects: "I told her she did not look that old and we should give love a chance."

From there, their relationship grew fast — they would, spend a lot of time together.

In October 2008, Paul accompanied Ruth, her son and her daughter to her home in Kieni East, in preparation for the Jewish Yumkipur, a one day fast that is closely followed by Succot, the Feast of the Tabernacle.

"Paul and I went around Mt Kenya, and prayed for our relationship. I prayed to God that he may lock this man down for me,"says Ruth. Paul reveals that he told God to "Punish her if she is using me!" They both laugh uproariously with their hands clutched together.

As with every relationship, theirs had its upheavals. Early 2009, Ruth told Paul she needed a break. They parted ways for about four months.

She says: "Paul has been the driving force in our relationship. At that time, I was insecure.

Each minute he was away, I would panic. Of course being a handsome, classy man does not hurt his chances with women. Plus he owns a modelling agency."

But Paul convinced her she was the only woman in his life. During the separation, Ruth could not concentrate in her work, and she took a break and went to her sprawling farm in Namanga where she plants trees.

She recalls: "I could not sleep. My heart would thump uncontrollably and I would take Aloe Vera and Omega 3 pills in the middle of the night to sooth it."

Then, when she came back to Nairobi, Paul called and they got back together again.

"As he lay beside me that night, my heart did not thump; I slept soundly…"

Paul says: "She had told me about her problem, about how she worried whenever I left her. There and then I told her that I wanted to marry her. It was the grand finale."

But it was on December 27, last year, when Paul officially popped the question. They had gone back to the mountain to pray, and he proposed at the height of their love.

"I said a big Yes!" says Ruth.

Says Ruth: "I had waited for so long. All my life, I had worked hard to make it in life, but I had also kept fit and taken care of myself — I don’t drink or do hard partying — all in the preparation for my man."

She warns young women not to concentrate so much on their careers that they neglect family life. Says she: "You will only regret it when time runs out on you. I wish all Kenyans love because it means more than wealth."

Paul is happy with his new bride and says that God will give them children in answer to their prayers. "We are planning to have a big family. We asked God for four children and somehow, He will give us," he says.

Their families are supportive. Paul’s mother says that he is a grown up man who can make his own decisions and that if he is happy, no one should interfere. Ruth’s children are grown up, and they say they are happy that finally their mother has found a soul mate.

Paul, who owns a modelling agency, Touch International, says that they are going to start a singles club, through which he intends to help lonely hearts find their matches — just like they did.