The warm glances and the laughter shared between Mercy and David during the interview is proof that they are not only spouses but also very good friends. Friendship, they say, is the ingredient that has kept their marriage afloat for the many years.
Though Mercy trained as a teacher at the Daystar University, she chose to pursue a career in music. Shortly after university, she gained so much popularity that she would get many invitations to sing during events. It is during one such event in 2007, while in her early 20s, that she met her soul mate. She was performing at a wedding reception in Lang'ata and David was a videographer at the same event.
"I had woken up feeling happy and arrived at the venue two hours early!" she starts. Little did she know that this day would mark a life-long love journey beside a man who would love her and support her fully in her music career.
"He casually asked for my contacts after the event suggesting that he'd like me to sing at his wedding someday."
David admits with a laugh that even though he wasn't dating, he would have loved her to perform when that day came. "Her voice inspired and challenged me and has continued to do so deep into our marriage," he says, looking at his wife approvingly.
The businessman, who was at the time writing a devotional diary, added Mercy to his mailing list and he would send everyone regular messages.
"I had forgotten who he was but I loved the messages. I was almost convinced that the sender was a prophet! Every message was in tune with what I had probably been thinking about or planning to do." When one day he suggested that she attends the Katoloni Prayer Centre in Machakos, she came back home determined to meet the man behind the texts.
Her first meeting with David was at a diner near the City Hall. Mercy was late for the meet-up and found David waiting. In the first hour of their chat, the two were sure that they were in love. As they left the diner several hours later that evening, Mercy was sure that David was the man she wanted for a husband. What she didn't know then, was that David had also made up his mind. "I admired Mercy's passion in music and mostly the manner in which she embraced the Word of God," said David adding that even today, Mercy's prayer-discipline amazes him.
Their one year courtship flew swiftly by.
"I love David because he is real –he is not dramatic and is straight forward," says Mercy, stating that their courtship started after their second date. In 2008, they held a colourful wedding at Lenana Boys High school which was graced by hundreds of their friends and fans.
The first few months of marriage were challenging for Mercy because she held 'happily ever after' view for her marriage.
"I felt neglected because I expected my husband to help with house chores and be there for me all the time," she explains.
David quickly clarifies that his business was going down then and it had started dawning on him that he had a family to take care of thus he had to work harder.
"I also quickly learnt that I had to be smarter to keep my wife happy and satisfied," he says with a smile.
Mercy explains that her worst nightmare came to life when her mother-in law died after a short illness and David sunk into depression. "I felt so helpless because I didn't know how best to console him. I prayed a lot," she says.
They now have two beautiful children; Ranise and Tevita and David manages Mercy's musical career.
"I especially loved it when the children came. I felt loved and appreciated and David being very good with children, would help out a lot.
David especially loves that Mercy helps him maintain his Christian discipline.
The two believe that happiness in marriage is brewed by the couple.
"We have never reached a place where we would need someone else to intervene in our issues," says David. He recommends that couples should solve their issues independently because that gives them sole family responsibility.
Mercy advises married couples to embrace untainted communication. "If you need to tell your spouse anything, give them the unedited version," she says. She however points out that submissiveness is a blessing and doesn't belittle the woman.
