He promised to love me and my children| But in the end, he subjected us to emotional torment.

Lydia Wambui’s Story: A Journey Through Love, Loss, and Resilience

Lydia Wambui was born in Kiambu County. She is an only child. Her parents passed away when she was still young, and she was raised by her grandparents. She dropped out of school in Form Two.

One day, while on her way to the shop, she met a man she already knew. They started talking, and although she was familiar with him, she never gave in to his advances. That day, he took her to his home—and that’s how she got married. They never dated.

Her mother-in-law advised her not to use family planning, and because Lydia was naïve, she agreed. When her firstborn was only 18 months old, she became pregnant with her second child. Over time, she began to notice that her husband was being unfaithful.

In 2013, her husband told her he disliked village life. Lydia suggested they sell their cows and start afresh in town, but he refused. Later, he claimed his brother had found him a job in Eldoret, and he left.

Not long after, some men came to their home saying they had come to collect a cow her husband had already sold. After some disagreement, Lydia gave them the cow, and they left.

Despite everything, Lydia found the strength to rebuild her life and began living well with her children. During all this time, her husband never called. Eventually, he returned and apologized for taking all their money.

He convinced her to move with him to Nakuru. They sold all their cows and goats. Once there, he claimed to have found another job and left Lydia with only 5,000 shillings. While away, he called and told her she was no longer his wife and that she should vacate the house.

After discovering he had another woman, Lydia decided to move on. She returned to her home and took on the responsibility of feeding and caring for her children. Life was not easy.

Listen to Lydia’s story as she shares how she got married for the second time and what her experience in marriage has taught her. This is a story meant to educate others about the realities many face in our society.