Heartwarming Tale: From being street Kids to finding Love amidst life's challenges
Peter Maina and Ruth Wanjiru who fell in love while living in the streets.
Imagine finding yourself alone in the world at the tender age of 11, having lost your guardian.
Even for an adult, the thought can be overwhelming. Well, this is the situation of Ruth Wanjiru and Peter Maina who, despite life throwing lemons at them, decided to make lemonade and see the glass half full.
This is a story of resilience, fighting against all odds to survive and eventually finding love.
"My husband and I met 26 years ago when I was 11. I had just lost my parents and the street was the only way I could survive.
After a few days on the street, I met a boy who introduced himself to me as Peter. There was something unspoken between us and we later found out that we slept in the same streets.
He was about my age and maybe I saw someone I could relate to. One evening he approached me, we talked and I shared my frustrations about how difficult it was to survive on the streets.
He later asked me to be his girlfriend and the rest is history. Together they have three children. The eldest is 20 years old and we raised him on the streets because we had nowhere to go at the time.
My husband, now 46, was orphaned at the same age my parents died. He tried living with a relative before running away because of the abuse he suffered.
His mother's death still leaves a hole in his heart. Maina always tells me that he prayed that one day he would find a wife with the qualities and character of his mother, and it just so happens that I have the same name as her.
What attracted Maina to me is my self-respect, which he says not many women living in the streets have.
Before I actually took the bold step of asking her to be my girlfriend at her young age, I would share the little money I got from begging, as little as ten, with her.
It's important to recognise the unique challenges faced by street families. Overcoming issues such as homelessness and financial stability can be daunting.
The resilience and love we share has helped us overcome many challenges together.