Mau Mau cash ruins 63-year-old marriage

When couples are exchanging wedding vows, they swear that only death will separate them.

But for Ms Thedrinah Wanjiru, an 80 year old woman from Nyeri, it is the Mau Mau compensation money that finally separated her from her 82-year-old husband Lawrence Kairianja.

She kicked Kairianja out of their home in Mukurwe-ini after receiving Sh400,000 as Mau Mau compensation.

They were married for 63 years.

However, elders have intervened and forced her to hand over some of the husband’s personal documents.
Since she received the money, Wanjiru has adopted a new lifestyle, complete with silver and gold bling.

Bernard Mwangi, one of their sons said that his mother together with his siblings have been spending the money in Nairobi and other towns, leaving him and his ageing father back at home without food.

Mistreatment

“Since they received the money, my mother and my brothers have really mistreated us. I wish they neglected me and gave my father some money,” said Mwangi.

Some of Kairianja’s children ganged up with the mother and kicked out the old man, who is now living at a neighbour’s house.
But when reached for comment, Wanjiru said that she loves her husband and would like to be re-united with him.

“It is true we received this amount, we have been using it together with my husband. I want him back though he also mistreated me when he used to work in Nairobi as a messenger. In fact he left me alone here without food to give to my children and now he is crying foul?” she asks.

Local administrators led by Kibutio location chief Joel Kamau asked Wanjiru to return the husband’s ID.
Wanjiru argued that her aged husband was going to lose the document since “he had nowhere to keep it.”

SEVEN CHILDREN

The couple has seven children.

However, Kamau demanded Wanjiru to give Kairianja his ID noting that the law demands everyone above 18 years age to possess a National identification document.

“Since you have kicked him out of your home, it is also good that you give him all his personal documents and clothing,” demanded the chief.
The granny complied

The chief said his efforts to try solve the matter with the family has hit a snag.

Other family members have also refused to intervene and re-unite the two stating that what Wanjiru did was a curse.
Kairianja’s brother Daniel Wanjohi says they will not allow Wanjiru back in her husband’s life even “if she came begging.”

As for the four children, Wanjohi says their conscience will bring them back to their father.

“This is a great shame and embarrassment to us as a family. My elder brother married and brought this woman to his farm but now she is kicking him out, what a shame! This is a curse” he shouts.
Consequently, elders have decided that a separate house to constructed for the man in the same compound.

“Together with village elders, we really tried to solve the matter but Wanjiru and four of their children declined to house their father. And to avoid bloodshed, we want to build him a house in the same compound,” said chief.

Gikondi Ward MCA Kahiga Thieri now want MPs to change the laws saying “they are empowering women too much.” Thieri said that women have been granted a lot of power and favouritism by the Constitution and now it is time such clauses are changed.

The MCA spoke after leading a team of villagers and well-wishers in constructing Kairianja a two-roomed timber house adjacent to his earlier home currently being occupied by his wife and a grandson.

As villagers were busy constructing the house, Wanjiru was busy tilling her farm a few metres away.
Villagers hope the family members will reconcile and unite their members.