Her hands shook rapidly asshe slowly picked up a boiled egg from her plate. She held tight.
It was apparent that when 80-year-old Mary Wanjiru finished peeling it, the mashed potatoes on her plate would be nondescript glop; ‘chapatis’ crusty and beans soggy.
Wanjiru gladly allowed a waiter at Cafe Deli restaurant where she was seated help as she turned around to continue bite a piece of chicken.
“Oh, if my husband saw me eating here, he would wake up and ask for his share,” she quipped, exposing her toothless jaws.
She talked slowly, taking long pauses in between while maintaining a smile curve, each time, thanking God for the hosts.
“I have never been taken out on a date for Valentine’s Day, but I always wore hot red and black none the less,” she said.
Wanjiru was born and bred in the hilly Kiambu County and despite her memories of Valentine’s Day in 1950s are dim, she has seen things change.
After her husband’s death, Wanjiku was taken in at Thogoto home for the aged, in Kikuyu, Kiambu county.
“My husband would buy meet or good food on that day for us in the house on that day. We did not go out, he did not buy me flowers… I never saw anyone buy flowers,” she said.
The octogenarian insists that young people have spoiled the ‘hallmark holiday’, just like they have many other traditions.
“During my peak years, everyone wore red. All my age mates wore red but we did not walk with men. A few dared, but mostly at dusk and not openly like you do it today,” she said.
In the 50s, Wanjiku said she was aware of the existence of Valentine’s day but she barely recalls seeing anyone celebrate it.
“We said Happy Valentine’s, but we did nothing. It is lovers’ day today, back then, it was Valentine’s day and no one told us what it meant,” she said.
Valentine’s day lost meaning to Wanjiku, just like many other holidays as she grew older. In fact, long before she arrived at Thogoto home run by PCEA church women’s guild, the day remained like any other.
Friday however was different as they were invited city restaurant located along Kenyatta Avenue opened its doors to share love with the a group old 15 elderly people from Thogoto.
The senior citizens were treated to a brunch: both continental and African cuisine and gifted with Maasai shukas.
The restaurant CEO Obado Obadoh said the action is informing their vision to impact on people's lives.
"When we put a smile on the seniour citizens' faces, we add a day to their lives,God gave us love, we like to spread it," he said.
Jane Muthoni, a social worker at the home said the wazee (elderly people) had not left the home in years and were excited to mingle with other people outside their usual residence.
Last year, the restaurant hosted orphans and vulnerable children from Kayole, in a similar event.
“I was in Nairobi in the 90s last. Then at the home, due to our condition, we never leave. I am so happy to be here eating chicken,” she said.