There’s one thing that is highly valued among the Kalenjins – marriage. In fact, it is one of the prerequisites for one to vie for a political office under most circumstances.
As a result, one gets pestered to get married once he clears university or attains a certain age. Traditions have really declined so much that a younger sibling can get married before an older one, which marks the beginning of nags for that older sibling until he or she finally gets someone.
One time we are having a drink with a father’s friend who confided in me to marry quickly. At the time I was a mere twenty-two year old, trying to navigate my life around not going to class, passing exams and eventually graduating.
“Look at your father, he is all organized and has finished all his responsibilities unlike me. I am older than him but my kids are still in school,” the old man told me.
The basis of his argument was that by the time one reaches mid-forties at least most of his kids should have cleared high school, and on their way to university.
He is nearing retirement and he does not know how he will take care of his kids when the time comes. Some of them are still in primary school, and for a teacher like him, he rues his wasted adulthood.
“I played around rather than marrying. What I advise yo isu marry now to be safe,” he says oozing what he thought was Socrates like wisdom.
Looking at it, 24 is the correct age to marry. If you live in the village it is perfectly fine. Life is less hard there compared to the city. If you have two kids, spaced two years apart, your first born will be fifteen when you hit your forties. The second will be thirteen.
At your forties, you will have been promoted in your place of work and maybe earning a decent salary, which will be easy to see your kids through high school and eventually university.
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