Eldoret man who married at 99 dies; heartbroken widow, 43, vows to stay single forever
Since making history as the first Kenyan man to marry at 99 years of age, Johana Butuk enjoyed marital bliss for two years and eight months.
But on September 27, Mzee Butuk – a resident of Soy in Uasin Gishu County passed away aged over 100 years.
His wedding ceremony happened on January 14, 2023.
Villagers in Soy said the centenarian rested a happy man after nearly three years of enjoyment with his wife Alice Jemeli, who was just 40 years of age during their colorful wedding.
Butuk’s relatives and neighbors revealed during his burial in Tuyabei, Soy on Tuesday that his real age was 110.
When The Standard and KTN highlighted his story early in 2023, the lovebirds disclosed that they had dated for 20 years.
They said they had first met in 2003 when Jemeli was in her early 20s Butuk was about 70 years old.
During her late husband’s burial on Tuesday, a devastated Jemeli eulogised Butuk as a great man and stated that their love blossomed after the wedding.
Butuk had proposed to his girlfriend of two decades in December 2022 and plans of a wedding ceremony started.
Jemeli says although she vowed to stand with Butuk until death do them apart, she had no plan of remarrying.
“I don’t want to start attracting other men out there. For the respect of my late husband, I will never betray him by remarrying. I will not betray him. I will stay home and take care of the children,” said Jemeli.
However, Jemeli says, she was facing another hurdle of taking two of her children who have finished high school to colleges and paying school fees for another one who is in secondary school.
“I have been doing menial jobs but my dream is to engage in meaningful agricultural activities like chicken rearing and dairy farming so that I support the children because I earn very little from casual labor,” the widow added.
Neighbors praised the widow as a heroine who agreed to marry and take care of a frail old man.
Jemeli’s elder brother Peter Chepkogon said he gave out her sister when Butuk and his elderly brothers came to seek her hand in marriage.
Mr Chepkogon says he agreed to give out her sister after she (Jemeli) confirmed that he loved the old man.
“I gave out my sister because my parents have since died. A woman came to me before the dowry negotiations began and told me that Jemeli had found a husband who was not just old, but very old. I told the lady that I was ready to give my sister out if she assures me that she loves the old man,” he said.
A neighbor, Sally Lagat said the marriage made mzee Butuk happier and stated she believed that it made him live longer.
“We are convinced that he lived happily and longer after marrying. We thank The Standard and KTN for highlighting his story in 2023. It was after the story was published and aired that a good Samaritan built mzee a house,” she said.
Jane Lelei said visitors from as far as Siaya County sojourned at the late Butuk soon after the wedding went viral.
“Jemeli worked in a restaurant and earned a paltry Sh200 and he used the money to take care of her husband and children. She is hardworking and we hope she gets support to achieve her dream of starting a business,” Ms Lelei added.
Father Richard Kemei of St Charles Lwanga Soy Catholic Church, where Jemeli’s marriage with Butuk was solemnised, said there is no age limit in marriage
“What matters is whether the couple love each other,” said Fr. Kemei
He went on: “For those who thought you can’t marry when you are old, Butuk and Jemeli’s marriage should set a precedence.”
