Papa Shirandula’s Kawira explains how she survived a storm that almost tore her marriage a few days after her colorful wedding

Eunice Njeri ditched her husband a day after their wedding and people couldn’t understand what caused the speedy breakup; Kawira went through a turbulent time in her first days in marriage but she survived and came out stronger.

Kawira, whose real name is Joy Karambu, exchanged vows with pastor-cum-gospel singer Ephantus Wahome in November 2014.

Their marriage almost crumbled in the first few days as both parties failed to cope with each other’s demand and expectations. In an interview with eDaily, Kawira and Ephantus explained how they survived the first few days of their marriage.

“Joy and I really struggled, we could not agree on anything. I am that guy who is a hardliner and I expected my principles to be followed, I thought a woman’s place is the kitchen. I expected her to submit fully and I wasn’t willing to change. The good thing is that Joy and I had gone through very educative pre-marital lessons. It is in those sessions I realized there is a theory part in marriage.

“The institution of marriage requires commitment and sacrifice. You come together two adults from different backgrounds with different ideologies. In fact, it is easy to break up the first night and if you manage to come out of the honeymoon, then be ready to fight the giants the first five months. Being selfless and determination is the drive factor in the first few months,” Ephantus Wahome said.

On her part, Kawira said she learnt to be submissive, she explained that being submissive made her husband do everything she asked for.

“It was hard! I have not been raised by a man and with boys around. So, I was wondering why my husband was telling me what to do; why we should go to church together, why I couldn’t go to my mum’s place the way I wanted, why I couldn’t hook up with my friends the way I used to, basically why were things changing.  At my parents’ house, I wasn’t cooking since I was the last born – so I was thrown into a world where I had to cook every day. He had issues with that but I learnt to submit. Submission doesn’t hurt at all, if a woman does so the husband often fulfills everything she asks for,” said Kawira.