By: Allan Olingo

Paul remembers too well the day he first met Nancy 26 years ago. Love blossomed, a traditional marriage and then children

Couple: Nancy Wambui and Paul Kanyi; Date: June 16, 2012; Venue: Moi Educational Centre in South C, Nairobi

Cost: Sh522,000; Guests: 600

 

 How did you two meet and what attracted you to her?

Paul: We met at a wedding party in 1986. What attracted me to her was her beauty. She was humble, kind and caring. We got married the traditional way because we did not have funds to finance a wedding.

Does that mean you dated for 26 years? How was the dating experience?

Paul: No, we dated for six years and got married the traditional way. Dating was okay although it was a long distance relationship. She was in Kirinyaga while I was in western Kenya. We used to communicate only through letters and landlines. Back then we called it Bolingo Telephono (a lingala song that talks about love through the telephone). Since there were no mobile phones then, I used to call the sister somewhere in Kerugoya and tell her to inform Nancy that I would be calling her the next day at a particular time. It was pretty interesting.

What did you like about the wedding?

Paul: I still smile when I think about our wedding. You see, when the bridal party arrived at the reception, the shouts, dancing and the excitement were overwhelming. It was so memorable. I also cannot forget the laughter during the cake cutting ceremony.

Did you encounter any challenges during the planning?

Paul: No we did not. There were no challenges as we had a committee that embraced teamwork and delivered. We owe it to them.

Did he meet your dream proposal?

Nancy: Yes he did. I had known him for some years, he was the man of my dreams, so I said a big “yes”.

 How was the pre-marital counseling?

Nancy: We got a lot of new insights on marital issues even considering we had been together for 23 years. We got counseled at ACK St James, Nairobi.

How was the honeymoon?

Paul: Though we have been together for 23 years, we went to Mahe, Seychelles. The honeymoon was an eye opener and helped in reminiscing our past and focusing on our future.

EB: How have you been able to stay together for this long?

Paul: This is a marriage that has been tested and blessed with three wonderful daughters and so I can say it has worked. Our first-born daughter is 22 years. It has been good for 23 years and we are happy that we have been able to make it through by the grace of God. We are confident that our marriage will even be better.