Where love’s stronger than faith

By Mwangi Muiruri

Many relationships have been rocked by religious differences. But for James Kariuki 42, an Electronic Engineer with Telekom Kenya and husband to pop music queen, Jayne Nyambura, religious disparities are no big deal.

A born-again Christian, Kariuki says what matters in a love relationship is not social, economic or political inclinations, but whether there is real "bonding".

Jayne 42, says: "The moment you introduce irrelevancies in a love affair, it gets cosmetic. What matters is whether you can derive pride in your spouse’s character".

She asserts: "I get my income from entertaining drunken patrons. My husband courted me on a disco floor despite being a converted Christian. This is an age of liberal dispositions".

But exactly how does he cope with a secular entertainer? "I trust her and I know she wouldn’t betray our love. I give her freedom to do what she loves best since I know our love is real," says Kariuki.

Courting pop star

He tells of how he patiently courted Jane at a Ruiru entertainment joint.

"I had always admired Jayne’s secular songs, her energy on the dance floor and creative mind in churning such lyrics — it pointed to a principled woman," he flatters her, adding that he made a vow to win her at all costs.

Jayne muses that she noticed Kariuki’s advances early enough.

"You see, a woman will tell when a man is interested. Trouble is, there is no way a woman will meet you halfway. You have to sweat to the last drop and for the sake of drama, she gets you to your breaking point," she teases.

She confesses that it was love at first sight in her case.

"But I believe that a man has to present his case well and intelligently as it makes a woman feel great and appreciated when being bombarded with those rehearsed love lines," she quips.

Detailing how the dating game started, Jayne says initially it was more of a psychological affair, with her pretending she was least concerned about his constant funny and romantic antics.

Meanwhile, she sent out her friends to research on the man’s personality, name, age, occupation and everything of interest.

On the other end, Kariuki religiously attended each of her shows at the Ruiru pub.

He confesses: "I would sit as a fan and also a secret admirer and dance energetically to every song she belted. I don’t remember applying so much physical energy to a cause in my life".

Lovestruck

He adds: "She hypnotised me with her mature and respectable demeanour. Add the energy in her performances, her beautiful face and sweet voice and you will see why I had no choice".

He tells of the day he made his first move: "She had just completed her performance. I bought her a drink but she declined the offer".

Jayne explains that she had too much on her mind to accept the drink. "You see, in my mind, he was my ‘Mr Right’. This was his third month in the hunting game. But I silently feared that refusing the drink would drive him over the cliff," she reminisces.

But once men get fixated with a woman, they never fear taking any jog or walk.

Kariuki continues: "When she refused my drink, I bid my time. Later in the night I approached her. As we shook hands, I slipped a paper with my contact number," he says.

The breakthrough came through a technical mishap during Jayne’s show.

Kariuki says: "I saw her pacing up and down the stage, looking very agitated. She was on phone talking to someone and sounding very disappointed. Her guitarist was stranded at the nearby Juja town. I seized the opportunity and offered my vehicle for free to collect him".

Jayne says she was disarmed by the gesture.

"The guitarist was eventually ferried and the show commenced without fans realising there had been a mishap. That is when I gave Kariuki my phone number," she says.

Strong Bond Nurtured

Six months later, they had developed a bond strong enough to be called love.

Kariuki says: "I took her to my parents and they approved of her. We got married in 2001."

On what caused him to get born-again, Kariuki says it was an overwhelming feeling of hollowness.

"I have a good job. I’m educated. I have money. But I felt my life was not complete. I started having nightmares of death and I knew God was speaking to me," he says.

Kariuki is a follower of the sensational Prophet David Owuor’s Repentance and Holiness church, saying he chose the church for "its opposition to the prosperity gospel in favour of uprightness, holiness and repentance."

On Jane’s delay in embracing the gospel, he says: "I cannot force it on her. In her own time, she will cross over."

Though the couple is yet to get a baby, Kariuki remains optimistic: "It is God’s preserve. He will give us one at His own timing."