19-Year-Old Kenyan Girl Gets Married to a 93-Year-Old Grandfather
Residents of Mataarba village in Tana River County were left in shock after a teenager got married to a man who is 73 years older than her.
19-year-old Hawaa Roble tied the knot with 93-year-old Abdullah Gardale in a traditional ceremony held on July 12th.
The couple overcame attempts by Hawaa’s family to stop the nonagenarian from marrying their daughter, saying he is too old and would ruin her life. At some point, the two fled the village following protests by the girl’s family and settled in Malindi.
“Most of my uncles and brothers were opposed to the relationship, but I was contented. For once I now had a sense of belonging and the old man was loving and smart enough for me,” Hawaa told Nation.
“We had to leave for a while and let people wean themselves off our affairs. We wanted peace.”
After their plan to stop the union flopped, Hawaa’s family was forced to reach out to that of Gardale and made a truce that culminated in their marriage.
“My husband is wise and strong. Those who think he is worthless should hear it from me. I am the wife and I have the actual testimony,” Hawaa remarked.
On his part, Gardale, who has divorced two wives and two had died, said, “I have been criticized and many have said what they had to say. They have a right to their opinions just as we have a right to be happy.”
The two met at Kipini in Garsen, Tana River when Hawaa was 18 years old and nursing a heartbreak from her teenage boyfriend who left without an explanation. Hawaa says she waited for him to return for marriage rites to commence but the young man never showed up.
“He did not give any reasons for leaving, not even an alert. He just disappeared and all I heard were rumors that he had been spotted in some places. I have not seen him to this day and his family has never said anything about his whereabouts,” Hawaa said.
She added: “Our age-mates are timid and insensitive. It has become more difficult to reason with a man of my age than it is to reason with a much older man.”
Comments
This Hawàa lady sounds smart…
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This Hawàa lady sounds smart and maybe, just maybe she is looking for a father figure too which has become rare even with the presence of fathers- that is even when the father is living under the same roof with children. Fathers should engage more with their children. Don't be a stooge in the house whose only work is to eat chicken thighs, bigger size of bread and steak because you brought the pay check.
@Mūgīkūyū, I'm not an…
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In reply to This Hawàa lady sounds smart… by Mūgīkūyū (not verified)
@Mūgīkūyū, I'm not an actuary but the life expectancy of a 93 year old man has to be in the low single digits. If they somehow have kids, these kids likely won't have a father by their 5th birthday let alone 10th. I agree that fathers should engage with their children. Unfortunately, due to the facts of life, his kids would barely engage with him before he passes on. Life is not guaranteed but the longer you live the closer you are to the end. He is close, very close.
He looks quite healthy and…
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In reply to @Mūgīkūyū, I'm not an… by Mundumugo (not verified)
He looks quite healthy and strong! He could possibly live another 15 - 20 years of which he will have a lot of valuable time to spend with the kids!
@ Mugikuyu, Iam not a…
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In reply to This Hawàa lady sounds smart… by Mūgīkūyū (not verified)
@ Mugikuyu, Iam not a psychologist,soliclogist,or afamily expert,but I concur with you.In some social issues,we the laymen are just as good as the so called experts.
Hawaa was looking for afatherly figure,and found in in a grand father. We all know that marriage is union of trade offs.Mzee needs services of a maid,and the young girl needs security of a mature man. He may be too old,but if she can squeeze out afew years of bliss,she would have had a good marriage.Of course based on his age the assumption here is that she most likely will outlive him...
I like their outlook on this matter- wacha waseme, watachoka.
My question is where did mzee get the gumption to win let alone approach her with marriage intentions.Certainly not too many nanogenerians Iknow think about chasing after teenage girls.Mostly for fear of being labeled dirty OLD MAN,in addition to being aware of the gross mismatch in every which way.
@MundūMūgo those villagers…
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In reply to @ Mugikuyu, Iam not a… by Maxiley (not verified)
@MundūMūgo those villagers should be giving those two contraceptives because that mzee appears to be very active.
@Maxiley, that old man has a 20/20 vision and I wonder what else is very operational with this old man. I doubt he is looking for a maid otherwise this girl would have been long gone.
@maxiley - Hawa was looking…
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In reply to @ Mugikuyu, Iam not a… by Maxiley (not verified)
@maxiley - Hawa was looking for a good husband not for a fatherly figure! She just fell in love with the man of her dreams, a good guy that resembles her grandpa. That’s it! Love is just chemical and a little blindness! Won’t you want to be that lucky @maxiley??
@ Catherine, so there in…
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In reply to @maxiley - Hawa was looking… by Carherine (not verified)
@ Catherine, so there in luck there? You serious,grandpa was the man of her dreams.Wow,she used to dream of marrying a 95 year old man,really?Well I can not argue with you ,you may know better.
Of course there is luck…
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In reply to @ Catherine, so there in… by Maxiley (not verified)
Of course there is luck there - on both sides😂! Are you telling when you that age of 95 you wouldn’t consider yourself lucky marrying a 19 year old chic? Can on @maxiley - you know you will be dancing with the stars man! You will even start goi g to Church to give the testimony of the goodness of the Lord! Please leave the two alone; will you?
“Lucky” is a relative word …
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In reply to @ Catherine, so there in… by Maxiley (not verified)
“Lucky” is a relative word @maxiley! Aren’t you lucky today to be alive? There is a lot of luck in this relationship as viewed from the eyes of the behold! Finally the guy has a smile in his face and that all that counts and matters. I wish both of them well!
Did Mohammed beat you in…
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In reply to @ Catherine, so there in… by Maxiley (not verified)
Did Mohammed beat you in this love triangle you are getting yourself involved in!? You sound like you were in love with the woman before the old guy beat you! Stop ogling at another man’s wife. There are plenty of girls (18 and older) you can capture for yourself!
Am with you.i agree 100…
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In reply to This Hawàa lady sounds smart… by Mūgīkūyū (not verified)
Am with you.i agree 100 percent.
That what we call love at…
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That what we call love at first sight.
The wedding was hugely…
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In reply to That what we call love at… by Rotten (not verified)
The wedding was hugely attended! The walking stick is his gun to defend his young wife! It can’t get any better than this! What counts is that she is happy. Love does not cost a thing @rotten
Good luck old goat. Enjoy…
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Good luck old goat. Enjoy her while you can, I mean while you are still alive.
To the young lady, please make sure you have his properties in your name soonest. After that just make him happy morning, noon and night. Two years max and he will be caput. ENJOY.
Wow! These Kikuyus and money…
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In reply to Good luck old goat. Enjoy… by Mwangi (not verified)
Wow! These Kikuyus and money @mwangi! The new wife must have calculated all that and much more without saying it out loud in public! I think you are jealous you can even hook up with a fifty…….something kd lady!
@Achieng it's not a Kikuyu…
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In reply to Wow! These Kikuyus and money… by Achieng (not verified)
@Achieng it's not a Kikuyu thing. It's more of a life lesson. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow and the older you get, the closer the end is. We see women all to often being dispossessed of their inheritance by greedy relatives. Their relatives were none to keen on this union so you can be sure they will try to rob the young lady. If you are married, make sure your hubby has you covered by an ironclad will, you will have earned it. Take it from a son of Mumbi, money can't buy happiness but it sure it dulls the the pain and misery of poverty. You ever see someone crying on a jet ski?
Wow, I like you already! I…
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In reply to @Achieng it's not a Kikuyu… by Mundumugo (not verified)
Wow, I like you already! I am not married yet because I’m still in my late 20s. But I may consider marriage if I can find an old cracker like you. You sound to have a lot of good wisdom from the house of Mumbi! How tall are you lover boy??
“Why old goat”? He is having…
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In reply to Good luck old goat. Enjoy… by Mwangi (not verified)
“Why old goat”? He is having a time of his life, just like 1999!! He will spend the rest of his “life” very happy and satisfied. A new wife is all he needed to make his dreams come true!
No problem so long as huyo…
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No problem so long as huyo bwana anasoma ukrasa.
Ndugu Matiang'i: Kitendo…
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Ndugu Matiang'i: Kitendo cha ajabu kama cha mzee huyu hakifai kutendeka nchini 2021!
Consenting adults..there’s…
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In reply to Ndugu Matiang'i: Kitendo… by Imara Daima (not verified)
Consenting adults..there’s no law being broken here
How do you know that there…
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In reply to Consenting adults..there’s… by Viazi Karai (not verified)
How do you know that there was consent? There could have been some undue influence from grand pa.Much like a teacher dating a teenage girl who "consents".
There is no law,prohibiting a 98 year old man from marrying an 18 year old girl.This is because, its rare,and it does not negatively affect society.But this could change if we start seeing copycats or an increase in such unions.
So my point is ,if something offends the"sensibility" of the community,even though its not illegal,something has to be done to deter that thing.Much like my dress-my choice. It may be legal to wear avery short miniskirt,but cause an uproar...Therefore consenting adults have to also be concerned with the reaction of the community they live in.My two cents.
The 18 year old girl just…
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The 18 year old girl just wanted to be married since her boyfriend came to his senses and decided he did not want to be tied down at such a young age. The mentality in Kenya that marriage comes with better status needs to change.No future here even if she gets pregnant her husband will be dead by the time the kids are old enough to know who he is. At 18 she is coming in as a co wife dividing further what the 93 year old has for inheritance. His kids from the previous marriages since he already had more than one wife are not happy and more than likely they will evict her when her hubby dies. Lastly at 93 there is not much to enjoy if he can even get it up but this naive 18 year old does not know any better.
Garsen is the home town of…
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Garsen is the home town of the former MP Mugatana! He is known to be a ladies man! Now I can clearly understand why! Mugatana is just like a little young rooster boy among some old competitors! Maybe I need to relocate to Garsen. 😎😂😇
I like most comments I read…
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I like most comments I read on this post. At least people are very open minded and supportive to this couple. If both are happy, who are we to critique. By the end of the day, it’s all about happiness.
Hawaa young boyfriend disappeared without a trace. Am sure she was heartbroken. In this near era, it’s what makes one happy. The good time they will live together happily even if it’s a year, 2 or 5 etc is what matters. She could have decided finding another young man and end up in tears. Proud of this young girl, she sound wise and smart as most people say.
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