My name is Grace Njeri, a small business owner living in Ruiru, Kiambu County, just outside Nairobi. I had been married to David Kamau for eight years. David worked as a sales supervisor in Industrial Area, Nairobi, while I ran a cosmetics shop at Githurai 45. Together, we had two children, Brian, aged seven, and Faith, aged four. From the outside, our marriage looked stable. We attended PCEA Ruiru, paid our bills, and hosted family during holidays. I believed we were building a future.
Problems started quietly. David began coming home late. Phone calls stopped being answered. He became short-tempered and distant. When I asked what was wrong, he said work pressure was too much. I tried to be patient. I cooked his favorite meals, kept quiet during arguments, and prayed harder. Deep down, I felt something was slipping away, but I did not know how serious it was.
One Wednesday evening, David came home early. He sat on the couch and told me, without emotion, that he was no longer happy. He said he had met someone who “understood him better.” My knees went weak. Before I could ask questions, he packed a small bag and walked out. The children watched in silence as their father left. Later, I learned the woman was Sharon Wambui, a hair stylist from Zimmerman, Nairobi. That night, my house felt empty and cold.
