A 110-year-old grandfather has renewed his vows to his 90-year-old wife in a wedding ceremony attended by many in Kipsebwo, Nandi County.
Mzee John Kimeli Yama and his wife Mary Chemesunde got married in the 1940s in a Kalenjin cultural wedding but resolved to renew their vows in a church wedding.
According to the Standard, Kimeli, who is among the few remaining men of his age-group, requested his children to organise the renewal.
“My father requested me to organise for their anniversary wedding ceremony. I suggested it be conducted by the Adventist church but he insisted on a wedding in the church norms that baptised them,” Benjamin Silqich told the publication.
The wedding was attended by their children, more than 40 of his grandchildren, their great grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
The couple had a total of eight best men and women who were all aged above 70 years old.
Chemusunde expressed her gratitude to the maker, having shared her journey with her husband, enduring both the good and bad times.
"I have been his only wife and even through the bad times, we never separated and I truly thank God," she stated.
A catholic priest, Fr Lang'ata, serving in the Nandi hills Parish presided over the ceremony and praised the couple for having a monogamous marriage for the 70 years they had been together.
“We took the step as the church that believes in the sacrosanct principles of marriage to pray for the couples that have remained faithful and successfully adhered to the church doctrines,” the father stated.
Additionally, he requested the youth to respect marriages for the future generation.
On his part, Nandi Hills MCA Gideon Koech also asked the youth to emulate the couple and learn how to solve social conflicts.
