99-year-old man marries 40-year-old lover after 20 years of courtship

You don't see a nonagenarian go down the aisle every day. Johana Butuk, a 99-year-old Kenyan, made news when he made the decision to wed for the first time.

After 20 years of dating, Mr. Butuk wed his 40-year-old girlfriend, Alice Jemeli, over the weekend.

The couple exchanged vows in a vibrant wedding ceremony.

According to the Kenyan daily "The Standard," Jemeli, the bride, was just 20 years old and Butuk, the groom, was 79 years old when they first met. Despite the age gap, their relationship grew stronger as they went on dates.

In December 2022, the nonagenarian asked Jemeli to marry him.

In his 99 years of life, Mr. Butuk has reportedly never dated a woman, making this his first marriage.

However, his bride has three kids from a previous union and is pleased that Mr. Butuk has embraced them.

According to Mr. Butuk, there are good reasons he hasn't married in his 99 years of existence.

He claimed in an interview that he had never been married because he had always desired mental tranquillity.

“I was also busy with menial jobs, and when I decided to marry, all my friends were already grandfathers. But when I met my wife, I discovered that I had found what I wanted in life.

“Alice talks less and helps navigate challenges in life. I have been late in many things, but today I am happy because I am a married man. I am confident that the happiness in my marriage will make me live longer,” he said.

He claimed he loved her because of her humility even though she was still a young woman when they first met.