As far as I am concerned, there are few things as adorable as a sweet old couple. Seeing love thrive for so long and endure the test of time is not only heart-warming but also inspirational, as defining true love in the current generation has changed significantly compared to what it was before.

Philip Muraya recalls the exact day he met the love of his life, Esther Muraya 47 years ago, in 1976. At that time, he was 25 years, while his wife was only 20 years.

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Mr Muraya says he and his wife were neighbours living 1km apart.

“When my mother needed something from their home, she would send me or one of my siblings. With time, I started volunteering to go,” he says laughing.

From the frequent visits, he made sure that he always left Esther a love letter that would enable them to meet away from their parents’ home for a nature walk through the forest, as they held each other’s hands.

Mr Muraya, laughing off, notes “sometimes when I wasn’t sent I would throw a stone over the roof for her to notice my presence and sneak out of the house.”

As time passed by, their love and bond grew stronger and they could no longer stand the distance between them. They both decided to live together in the ‘cube’ Mr Muraya had built for himself.

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“It’s at this point that I informed my mother who sent two elders to have a negotiation with my wife’s side,” he adds.

Mr Muraya shares that during those times, the elders had to peep through the gate and wait for people to wake up in order to share the news.

Mr Muraya highlights “my mother and my wife’s father wrote letters between each other on the terms and conditions needed for our ‘come we stay’ marriage.”

Mr Muraya taking us through their life shares that since they started living together, life became simple after all, with just the two of them taking care of each other with utmost love and affection, even five children later.

He says “despite facing the normal fights and arguments, we made it a rule not to say mean words towards each other when angry. We also try not to go to sleep angry.”

Additionally, he notes that they frequently reminisce about their moments as they spare time outside their comfortable home to have deep conversations on how to improve themselves.

Esther says she would still choose Philip to be her partner.

Photo credit: WINNIE KIMANI/MTAA WANGU

Asked what she loves about her husband, Esther, giggles and says, “If I went back in time I would still choose him. He reminds me daily how pretty I still look under my wrinkled skin.”

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As she emphasizes on how much she falls in love daily with the same person, she says the only thing she dislikes about Mr Muraya is the temper.

“No relationship is perfect; it needs two imperfect people to perfect it,” Esther shyly concludes.
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