Award-winning author and LGBT activist Binyavanga Wainaina last year revealed plans to move in with his Nigerian lover as 'husband and wife' in 2019.
On Tuesday, Wainaina died in his Lang'ata home without having actualised the plans. While proposing to the unidentified lover, Wainaina said the two had dated for six years and were to move to South Africa
The accomplished writer who worked closely with literary mogul Chinua Achebe, revealed that he was homosexual in 2014 after rumours about his dating history.
“I can be selfish. I masturbate a lot, and never allow myself to crack and grow my heart. I touch no men. I read books. I love my dad so much, my heart is learning to stretch. I am a homosexual," he said as quoted by the Nation.
According to him, the two were right to have a grand reception to Kenya after exchanging vows. He said that the lover was 'gentle', adding that he considered himself lucky.
“I asked my love for his hand in marriage two weeks ago. He said yes, nearly immediately. He is Nigerian. We will be living in South Africa, where he will be studying next year [2019]. We will get married there, early next year.
“We will have a reception for Kenyans in Nairobi sometime next year too. Nothing has surprised me more than coming to love this person, who is gentle and has the most gorgeous heart. I consider myself hugely lucky that he loves me and I have only recently fallen in love with him, but we have known each other and have been dating on and off since 2012,” wrote Wainaina.
In 2016, Wainaina came out publicly about his HIV positive status. He said that he was 'very happy about it'. Wainaina won the Caine Essay Writing award in 2002.