An Eldoret man who married at 99 years old is dead.

Johana Butuk enjoyed his marriage for two years and eight months.

He was a resident of Soy in Uasin Gishu County.

He passed away on September 27, having lived over 100 years.

According to Soy residents, Mzee Butuk rested a happy man after nearly three years of enjoyment with his wife, Alice Jemeli, who was 40 years old during their colourful wedding.

During his burial in Tuyabei, Butuk’s relatives and neighbours revealed that the deceased’s real age was 110 years.

In 2023, the lovebirds revealed they had been dating for 20 years before marriage.

They also added that they first met in 2003 when Jemeli was in her early 20s, while Mzee Butuk was about 70 years old.

On the burial day, the widow emotionally eulogized her husband as a great man and recounted how their love blossomed after the wedding.

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How Jemeli Mourned Her Husband

Jemeli also vowed not to remarry again after the death of her husband.

“I don’t want to start attracting other men out there. Out of respect for 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.

In the last two years, after the wedding ceremony, the late Butuk’s home attracted hundreds of visitors.

The widow said the large number of visitors came just to confirm whether it was true that a 100-year-old man had married a woman in her 40s.

“We received so many phone calls and visits. Many people came to support us, and others promised to visit but never showed up,” Jemeli said.

What the couple dreamed to achieve after wedding

After the wedding, the couple had a dream to build a decent house and live there happily for the rest of their lives, and well-wishers stepped in.

Although Butuk’s death came as disbelief to the family, his send-off was characterized by a well-wisher who saw the couple’s mud-walled house and built a two-bedroom permanent structure.

Challenges Jemeli is Facing

LJemeli said she has a challenge taking care of their two children who have finished high school.

She is also facing difficulty paying school fees for one her children in high 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 can support the children because I earn very little from casual labour,” the widow added.

Neighbours also showered praises on the widow, terming her as the heroine for agreeing to marry and take care of the frail old man.

What Jemeli’ brother said about Butuk’s marriage 

Jemeli’s elder brother, Peter Chepkogon, revealed how Butuk and his elders visited their home to seek Jemeli’s hand in marriage.

Chepkogon said he agreed to Butuk’s proposal after Jemeli confirmed that she truly 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.

Sally Lagat, who is a neighbour of Mzee Butuk, said that marriage made Mzee happier and contributed to his longevity.

“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.

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Jane Lelei recounted how visitors from Siaya County and other far places flooded the late Batuk home after the wedding went viral.

“Jemeli worked in a restaurant and earned a paltry Ksh200, and she used the money to take care of her husband and children. She is hard-working, and we hope she gets support to achieve her dream of starting a business,” Lelei added.

Father Richard Kemei of St Charles Lwanga Soy Catholic Church, where Jemeli’s marriage with Butuk was conducted, said there is no age limit in marriage, and what matters is whether the couple love each other.

“For those who thought you can’t marry when you are old, Butuk and Jemeli’s marriage should set a precedent,” he said.

Collage of 99 year old man and his wife Jemeli. PHOTO/FILE