The intriguing love story of Nakuru man who changed his religion for his wife
Shamim Mutai and her husband Gurdeep Lotay.
Shamim Mutai, a devoted muslim and Gurdeep Lotay, a proud Sikh from India crossed paths eight years ago in Nakuru.
Despite their differing religious backgrounds at the time, a deep connection blossomed between them.
"I was raised and brought up in a Christian family, When I reached high school, I embarked on a personal journey, intrigued by the teachings of Islam. I found solace and beauty in its teachings. With that, I made a courageous decision and embraced Islam," Mrs Mutai says.
She discloses that she met her husband, when she was a secretary at a car company, where her husband was a frequent customer seeking spare parts. Little did she know that the spare parts hunt would become a building block of a lasting love.
"When my husband first approached me, I was sceptical of him. It took me weeks before I could actually let him have my contact," she recalls.
Mr Lotay on the other hand says that for him to make the first approach, he did not mind nor see the religion, but a woman he would want to spend the rest of his life with.
"My wife wasn't defined by faith. As our commitment deepened, I realized I wasn't falling in love with a set of beliefs but a woman who would become my companion through my life's journey."
Mrs Mutai notes that the husband's genuine kindness, respect, and unique qualities gradually shattered those preconceived notions. With every shared moment, his true character emerged.
"We had dated for three months when he agreed to convert to Islam, and let go of his Sikh religion," Mrs Mutai reveals.
To Mr Lotay, this decision came easily to him.
“With the love I had and still have, converting to Islam was not a hard decision. I chose to convert to Islam in order to unite our hearts and build a life together."
Mrs Mutai narrates that all was going well in the relationship, until the two decided to make their union formal and involve their parents. That was when she faced an unexpected rejection from her husband's family.
"On the day he took me to meet his family, I was nervous. There was language barrier and so I could not immediately understand what they were talking about. It was only later that Lotay told me they had rejected me," she explains.
She highlights that despite the initial heartache of rejection, her husband stood firmly by her side, choosing love over external expectations.
Having dated for nearly one year, they did a Muslim wedding.
"Eight years down the line, we are blessed with two children. We cook and sell food together and my husband's unwavering support, love and determination continues to grow with no sign of letting go off our commitment."
Mr Lotay notes that in his wife, he has found a partner, someone with whom he could share his dreams and build a life with.