Mercy Masika-"We have a joint bank account though he's in charge of our money."

It's a Wednesday and Mercy Masika is busy with the first business of the day – a meeting with the crew of the music business she runs with her husband David Muguro, who is also her manager.

As the meeting went on, she notes from the corner of her eye that someone is carrying something unusual into the room. It's a white box. It looks more like a cake box. Realising what it could be, she glances quickly at her husband.

"You won't believe what my husband did!" she says, narrating how he had pulled a surprise on her.

"It was a birthday cake. The mood too changed from boardroom serious to celebratory, says Mercy. "My husband had it all planned," she says. "Complete with a performance by Jimmy Gait!"

The gospel singer, who has given us popular hits like Mwema, Nikupendeze, What God Can Do and lately, Shule Yako(Nifunze) is all praises for her man. "He is a hands-on dad and pays attention to detail," says Mercy. "I must admit he's better than me with the kids," confesses Mercy, about her husband's parenting skills on their two children, Ranise, seven and Tevita, six. "He is very responsible and supportive."

Mercy met her husband, David at a wedding where she was ministering. The Minister of the gospel used to send her scripture, which she found relevant with her day-to-day life's issues. "It's like he could read my mind and knew exactly what pacified my spirit," says Mercy.

He married her after dating for a year. However, as opposed to going out on dates with her husband, Mercy prefers to spend quality time with him at home. Isn't that a bit boring, one wonders? She confesses she prefers things low key. "I don't even like surprises," says Mercy, who prefers being private.

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Away from home, Mercy is a worship leader, composer, song writer and a recording and performing artist. Although she released her first album in 1994 at the age of 12, her 2003 song Amukomete (wake-up), from the album, Wendo Waku, was the hit that threw her into the limelight. The album, which was largely in Kiswahili and Kikamba, was produced by industry veteran Robert 'R Kay' Kamanzi.

In 2008, Mercy was recognised as Artist of the Year and Female Artist of the Year at the Groove Awards, an annual Gospel music fete. She has since recorded four more albums, with her latest hit "Shule Yako" still reigning on the charts.

It is evident from her music videos that Mercy has a distinct and up-to-date sense of style but it is also notable that she is very intentional on how she dresses. She perfectly strikes the balance between stylish and scantily dressed, proving that a woman doesn't have to be scantily dressed in her music videos to sell her music.

The daughter of church ministers (her dad is a Bishop while her mum is a Reverend), Mercy grew up as a church girl in Ukambani. "My parents taught me to dress up in a respectable and decent way," she says. "You are addressed according to how you are dressed," she notes. Mercy confesses that she only started wearing short clothes after she got married. "But it's got to be knee-length with stockings," she says.

Mercy, an alumna of Daystar University has a Bachelor of Education in English and is currently pursuing a masters in Community Development in the same university.

Mercy says she is enjoying marriage. Theirs is a marriage that is so transparent that they share their phones passwords. In fact when I called Mercy to set up this interview, her husband was the one who answered. Don't they feel like they are crowding each other's space, one wonders.

"Openness is key in a relationship," explains Mercy. "We handle each other's mail," she says. Her husband also deletes any inappropriate messages on her social media page.

Mercy is an attractive woman and confesses she receives indecent proposals from admirers. "We are open and we share any such advances, either from my side or his," says Mercy.

"The secret to a lasting relationship is keeping no secrets from each other," advises Mercy, who has been married for close to a decade.

"We have a joint bank account though he's in charge of our money," she says. "If I managed our money, I would probably finish it on shoes and clothes," she confesses. Her biggest fashion splurge, she confesses was when she borrowed Sh9,000 from her sister to buy a pair of shoes, which she wore while filming 'Mwema'.

Fortunately for her, the song went on to become a big hit though she adds that the black and gold heels are too high and she hardly wore them again. "I had to wear them though they didn't match with my outfit," she says amid laughter.

How do the Muguros keep their marriage exciting? "We travel together," says Mercy. "Also, when we are faced by new challenges, it is a humbling experience since we look up to God and encourage each other," she says. "You have to be intentional and calculative to keep your marriage," she adds.

She says that as a couple, she and her husband have learned to separate any personal issues from their work environment. "It's a blessing working with my hubby," says Mercy.

But doesn't this picture-perfect couple ever face challenges? Mercy confesses that like every normal relationship, there is bound to be a clash of personalities. "At times I talk when I shouldn't," she confesses. "Or you know, just mood swings," she says smiling.

On what drives her, Mercy says she is purpose-driven. "My purpose is to awaken faith, hope and love through my music." She also took the Female Artiste of the Year Award winner, Groove Awards 2016. She says her ministry reaches out to women and young people. "When you have the women, you have the men too," she says with a twinkle. Mercy also reaches out to the youth in learning institutions through motivational talks.

Asked if she has a problem with the new generation of upcoming musicians, especially those with lyrics that leave listeners doubting their intentions, Mercy says it's a reflection of who they are. "We as a church should take responsibility," she says.

On matters parenting, Mercy says she's more of the Good Cop while her hubby is the disciplinarian. She blames it on her personality, which she says doesn't thrive with rules. "I thank God for my hubby," says Mercy. "If it was up to me, I'd spoil them rotten," she confesses. However, the Muguros ensure they give their children the basic rules on all matters including sex. If they see couples kissing on TV, we tell them it should be reserved for marriage, says Mercy. The kids are also aware that they should not allow anyone to touch their private parts.

The Muguros make an effort to be home in the evenings to spend time with their kids. "At times we travel with them," says Mercy. "We also watch Christian movies with them," she says.

Mercy says her latest song, Shule Yako, which was written by fellow gospel star, Piston speaks to her spirit. "We are in God's school," she explains. It encourages us to practise what the Word says and to write down our vision, she notes. It is a bit poetic but it delivers, she says.

But how has Mercy survived the test of time and remained relevant for over 15 years? "I have accountability partners," she says. "I am accountable to God, my hubby, my pastors, counsellors and folks," she says. "It also scares me that on judgement day I will have to give an account of how I used my talents to God," she confesses. She is determined to give a good account on that day.

Mercy concludes by saying that life is not a rehearsal. "Live well and make the most of all the relationships God has given you," she says. Mercy says a full life is not about you about others.

"When I die, which is not soon, I want to have touched lives as a human being," says Mercy.