Meet Rev. Martha Mumbi, a pastor in the Anglican Church who in her 70’s has never married or had any children. On an online interview, she explained that this was entirely out of personal choice and that she had no regrets about it.
When probed about why she made such a unique decision, she answer that three major things influenced her to do so.
The first reason was because her mother was married of at a very tender age. A few years after their marriage in1952 A State of Emergency was declared and his father was moved to Holla. Rev. Martha witnessed her mother strugle living as a single woman for many years.
Her father changed his social life after coming back from Holla and eventually re-married. Her mother did not agree with this and she became Mentally I’ll after which she was frequently admitted in Mathari Mental Hospital. Every time the mother would deliver a baby she would get mentally unstable and become re-admitted.
During the time she was admitted the young Martha was forced to be responsible for her little siblings, as she was the eldest. She stated this was her second reason for not wanting to have any children. This is because she took up motherly responsibilities while a was too young and this reduced the excitement and desired her desire to sire children of her own.
She said in 1972, she entered a romantic relationship but the man cheated on her and this was the straw that broke the Camel’s back. After that relationship broke, she made a decision to never get married or have any children. A decision she has never taken back to this day.
Rev. Martha is a happy single woman at 70 years who says a has no regrets about her decision.