Who is Emmanuel?     

[Mapenzi]

First he is my loving hubby. He is simple, intelligent and likes to go along with people. He works for Amref Health Africa. He also likes playing football, swimming and cooking. His other favorites are playing guitar and making friends.

 

Who is Mapenzi?     

[To Emmanuel]

Mapenzi is my darling wife and she is this beautiful woman who loves her family. She likes Fashion and her hobbies are browsing and designing female wear. More importantly she loves photography.

 

Where did you two meet?

[Emmanuel] Well we met in a friend’s wedding, it’s actually funny we never knew each other before. She was a maid and I was a guard. She did not attend the first 2 training sessions and I happened to be dancing with another lady. So during our third training she showed up and that was the first time we met.

Since I was already familiar with the moves we had practiced, the matron asked me to fast coach her, you know these wedding manenos..haha! So the first time I held her, my heart clicked into her jigsaw. I knew I found the love of my life. The rest is history.

 

Who proposed first? How did it happen?

[Emmanuel] Haha...That’s a tricky one. Once upon a time...

[Mapenzi intervenes] Beeb

They both laugh and Emmanuel cuts the long story short

[Emmanuel] Well, one beautiful afternoon I had gone to her apartment to pick my phone charger. You see, good things happen on the right time. So this particular day and time I was welcomed with a good fish aroma. It smelled all over, she had prepared me a very nice meal. I ate to my satisfaction and then staged a walk out. I reached for the door and closed it behind me – without a word, thank you, or bye! She had never seen me do a thing like this before. “Akanikimbilia” and when she opened the door, I was on my knee. Guess what..!!

 

How long are you married now? How is life so far?

We are now into 4^th year of Marriage we dated for three years then later got married.

So far so good! Life has ups and downs, misunderstandings are normal but if you love each other to rise above all that. So we have a little prince, 2 years old now.

It’s fun being young parents trying to learn new trades and so on.

 

How would you describe each other?

[Emmanuel]   

I would describe my wife as loving sometimes too much loving, but she is also understanding and hardworking.

[Mapenzi]   

Well for me I would describe my husband as supportive and he is someone who encourages you even when you feel there is no hope. He is also hardworking and to be honest he cares for his family.

 

Two major challenges you have ever faced in Marriage and how did you overcome them?

Hypocrisy and fake friends who don’t want to see you happy in your marriage, so they try to use all possible means to separate you from each other but if you trust each other you rise above it.

Other challenges which happens in all marriages is misunderstandings.

I love watching football my wife is not a fun so initially I had a hard time going to watch football in public places and at times I had to really negotiate.

He has learnt to adapt to my weakness of photography. I just love photos and I have given him a hard time. Cause at times, he is off mood or late for work but I would insist to take pictures.

 

If you had to spend Ksh.1 million, what would you do for him/her?

[Emmanuel]   

For me I will expand her fashion design business and spend a relatively good amount to spoil her. She is my queen and she deserves it!

[Mapenzi]   

I know my husband won’t mind a car or maybe get another piece of land he loves to invest!

 

If you could change the past, would you choose each other again?

[Emmanuel]

Of course yes. But I would ask her to change some things

[Mapenzi]

Yes, I would marry him. He too will have change those little things he’s talking about.

 

So what is the secret to your smiles in marriage?

We just love each other and Count our blessings, sometimes you can have troubles but we look at the big picture and the purpose for our lives.

 

What can you advise the married, and those unmarried?

[Emmanuel]

Appreciate your partner the way they are and try to mold them to what you want them to be.

[Mapenzi]

For me the most important thing in marriage is respect and trust to each other, I think if you respect and trust your partner you will be friends and marriage will be easy and fun.