Couple in Sh900 debt saga fears for their safety

Patrick Andabwa, a bachelor who reportedly married a colleague’s wife offered to him to settle a Sh900 debt, is a worried man – and so is his new wife.

The couple, who have stirred controversy in Kona Mbaya village, Moi's Bridge sub-location of Kakamega County are living in fear of being lynched.

This follows allegations that the local administration called upon mourners at a funeral to “tame the couple.”

The move comes a week after Mr Andabwa, 31, married 40-year old Jones Kevogo who is a mother of five.

According to Mr Andabwa, he was asked to marry Ms Kevogo by her husband in order to pay off Sh900 debt owed to him.

Mr Andabwa said he had baked bricks three times for Francis Kevogo but the latter refused to pay him for the services rendered.

Since Mr Kevogo could not pay the debt in cash, he urged Mr Andabwa to take an equivalent of the amount owed in kind – his wife.

It is a matter that has shocked many residents.

When the Nation visited the couple at their home on Friday, they alleged that a local chief had called for their lynching during a funeral in the neighbourhood.

They claim that the chief said the couple had done something that is contrary to “African beliefs” and as a result, the couple is now living in fear.

‘DEEP LOVE’

Mr Andabwa claimed they were both now in 'deep love’ and no matter what the society perceives of their relationship, they will disregard it.

“I believe this lady truly loves me despite our differences. I am going to love her back and treat her special,” Andabwa said, adding that Mr Kevogo had handed his wife to him “wholeheartedly” and there are no grudges.

Ms Kevogo, who has five children, however accused her 'former’ husband of what she termed as being unloving and uncaring.

She revealed that she was asked to accompany Mr Andabwa to his home when he came to demand for his money last Saturday morning from her 'former’ husband who digs wells.

'’All I want at the moment is to spend the rest of my life with Andabwa because my husband has disowned me. I will take my children back if he allows me to do so because I still care for them,’’ Ms Kevogo said.

WELL WISHERS

Mr Andabwa’s mother Christine Eragura Owade called upon well-wishers to come on board and help the couple settle down in life together.

Mrs Ewade said that Andabwa is her last born and all that could be done at the moment was to help the couple as because they are jobless thus cannot sustain themselves financially.

'’I’m requesting help from well-wishers to support this couple settle down together in life as they are both helpless. I’m afraid that Mr Kevogo may hurt them so we need to have them relocated to somewhere else because of the shame they have caused my family and this region as a whole, '’ Mrs Ewade said.

One of the neighbours, Nathan Mbasu Shimaka, termed Mr Andabwa as a social and hardworking man.

'Andabwa is so hard working and social. At the moment we are only requesting people to come to their aid as they cannot go to work, '’ said Shimaka adding on that the two were unable to leave their homestead out of fear of being mocked or even being hurt by the locals.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Francis Kevogo did not bear fruits as he was not at his home when the Nation visited on two occasions Saturday. Neighbours said that he had left for work.

However, the area sub-county commissioner, when contacted on phone, promised to take immediate action and ensure that the couple are safe.