Joseph Onywera, whose wife allegedly dumped him because he was poor, is the latest millionaire in Kisumu after winning a Sh20 million sports betting jackpot last month.
His wife, who left him 16 years ago, now insists that Onywera is her “one and only” husband and that she won’t mind returning to him “to take care of her home.”
Onywera, a resident of Kapiyo Village in Kano-Kabonyo in Kisumu County, won the Sh20 million from Betway, a sports betting company with offices in Kenya. But the 62-year-old fan of Gor Mahia and Arsenal football clubs says that his poverty-stricken life led to their separation, and he prefers living ‘man-solo’ as he has lived since his wife allegedly walked out on him.
Regina, a mother of three, has even returned two of the sons she had disappeared with back to their father a week after Onywera’s windfall became public.
The one son who was living with Onywera is a casual labourer at Rabuor, a nearby market centre.
But Onywera, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Taita-Taveta County, is not interested in taking Regina back.
However, Regina has disputed claims by Onywera that she walked out of their marriage because her husband was poor. Instead, she claims that they separated because of a “small domestic misunderstanding” for which she has since apologised and is now planning to reunite with her husband. She further says that her sons have grown and would want to build their houses, which requires that “the mother be present,” in accordance with Luo customary laws.
Regina claims she got married to Onywera 31 years ago and lived together for 15 years before the ‘domestic misunderstanding’ separated them despite several attempts at reconciliation.
She has denied claims that she walked out on Onywera because he was poor. She counters that, “During the 15 years we lived together, there was nothing special in our marriage. We were just depending on my husband’s small income and my small business.”
She adds that, “My separation from my husband was not a secret. Everybody in the village, including the chief, was aware, and it was clear that it was a separation and not a divorce. I have not moved in with another man ever since.”
Regina moved to her parents home before relocating to Migori town where she has been selling fruits and vegetables while living in a rented house for the last 16 years.
“I had three children to take care of, with the first-born being in Standard Four. I had to fend for them and myself, so I decided to start a small business,” she said.
She claims she was in constant communication with her husband whom she blames for their long separation, claiming Onywera was reluctant to accept her back. She however says she is return to her matrimonial home to “iron out outstanding issues.”
“I have been communicating with my husband and I had sought forgiveness and reconciliation long before the jackpot. I even talked to him three days ago and he told me he was in hospital and promised that we would talk later,” she said, adding that, “It was obvious that I would be buried at Onywera’s home, and had I died even in Migori, I would have been brought back to that home. And in the event that he died before me, I would have been asked to come back home to bury him, as there was no other woman in his life.”
Onywera has however denied ever communicating with the wife, insisting that he is not ready to accept her back after “she messed my life.”
Their last-born son completed his secondary education in 2012 but dropped out of a tourism course after the uncle who was supporting him ran out of funds. Onywera has vowed that, “I am ready to help the boys if they cooperate. I have some projects to do and I need some peace of mind.”
The son, John Ooko, told The Nairobian that, “I have talked to my dad and he is ready to help me. I am passionate about my career choice and I hope all will be well.