Bungoma women dying to ‘bonyeza’ Sh5 million winner

 Ainea Buteta says that after winning the money, he has been approached by five women who want to marry him

A 69-year-old man who won Safaricom’s Sh5 million and an Isuzu pickup promotions has not known peace since his windfall.

Ainea Buteta from Kapiya village in Bungoma County, says that after winning the money, he has been approached by five women who want to marry him.

Buteta who leads a simple rural life has disappointed all of them because “a majority of women are cons, they just want to enjoy my God-given wealth and when it is over, they will run away. Why didn’t they call me when I was penniless?” the man who is a subsistence farmer said with a laugh.

Buteta says he married his first wife but she later died after giving birth to two children.

Thereafter, he remarried, but divorced unceremoniously over a domestic disagreement.

“I am now living with my lovely third wife who has stood by me in times of hardship. Why should I abandon her after getting Sh5 million? She is my best and close friend,” says Buteta who was clad in torn trousers, shirt and open plastic shoes nicknamed ‘Amka Twende’. In his hand is a Kabambe phone. 

“I have not exhausted the cash. I was taught and advised by financial experts on how to use the money in the best way possible. I am still thinking where and how to use it,” says Buteta whose wife, Lucy Atyang’ 59, praises her husband for not having spent a single night out since winning the millions.

“My husband is a great disciplinarian and very strict. He sometimes gives me the phone to receive when those women call him, he has never taken alcohol in his entire life. He only takes tea.”

She says they have consulted on how to spend the money to avoid blowing it off.

 Buteta, known as ‘Milionea’ by neighbours, renovated his semi-permanent house and bought household items, including a big television set. He also bought five acres of land in different areas for his sons and two plots at Changara market centre where he has already developed one of them.

“On one plot, I have constructed seven rental houses and I want my sons to also develop the other one. I earn Sh7,000 monthly from the seven houses. This cash keeps me going and it helps me pay school fees for my children and grandchildren,” says the man who is in the process of constructing houses for his sons on the land he bought, besides installing electricity in all his houses.

Buteta notes that despite receiving the cash, he has not disrespected, nor looked down upon his neighbours and they have coexisted very well.

“Hakuna madharau, mimi ni yule yule, pesa haiwezi ikanifanya nikosane na majirani na marafiki (I am still the same person. I can’t look down on my neighbours and friends just because I’ve got money),” says Buteta.

He says that owing to his good working relationship with neighbours and friends, nobody has ever knocked on his door with the aim of breaking to steal.

“Money has changed my fortunes but it has not changed my attitude,”  he adds.