He called a lot and took me on dates: Actress Moraa narrates ‘out of this world love’ with Rugby Coach Benjamin Ayimba

Actress Gloria Moraa Nyaboke, mother to the late Rugby Coach Benjamin Ayimba’s two children Ayimba Jr and Hawi opened up to Cheptoek Boyo about their beautiful relationship, court battles and rebuilding her life after. Speaking to Buzz Central, Moraa says she met Ayimba at a party in Kileleshwa after divorcing her first husband.

“I met Benjamin in June 24, 2012, when I was going through so much stuff after my first divorce. I had accompanied my friend and her husband to a party in Kileleshwa. When we got there, my friend’s hubby bought me a bottle of alcohol and I was drinking while crying, but after a while, I started mingling with people.

“There was a guy in a cap staring at me. When his friend left, I offered him my drink since he was still looking at me. He told me to sit down and we talked then I realized who he was. He went to the same primary and secondary school with my brother and he used to come home and visit him but I was still a baby.

“We continued talking and he liked the way I poured his drink. We spoke the whole night. There was a mzungu who was also interested in me but he had no chance. We bonded just like that and he offered to take me for reggae. Then we left the party and went to Nairobi West. At 6:30am we shared a cab, I dropped him home before the taxi dropped me at my place,” Moraa said.

Also read: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thenairobian/news/2001414174/ayimba-struggled-with-rejection-women-and-depression

Despite not having Ayimba’s phone number he called that same morning.

“At 10am, he called me and we talked. He was going for a meeting in Machakos. He started writing sweet messages in the evenings, but I had no feelings since I had just been divorced and I was not ready to date.

“But he would call me a lot and take me on dates. If I was going for an audition or shoot, he would take me and wait. I wasn’t in love at first, but after two months he won my heart and we started our relationship. He was such a nice and selfless person. If he had Sh10,000 and I needed money, he would give me Sh9000 and fuel with Sh1000. He used to help people,” she added.

I knew his wife much later

Moraa says she learnt of the wife much later, and whenever they broke up with Ayimba, he would say his wife was there to stay.

“When we started our relationship, I think he had issues with his wife but I didn’t want to be part of their issues. Our love was something out of this world but there was a time we broke up when his wife learnt of our relationship. He never hid me from anyone, we would go to all rugby games around the country be it in Kisumu, Mombasa or Nairobi.

“He showered me with a lot of love and I was smitten. Sometimes I threatened to leave but he would tell me I am not going anywhere. So, I stayed and he made me happy, brought back my sanity and confidence because I used to drink a lot to deal with my ex-husband.”

Actress Gloria Moraa with the late Coach Benjamin Ayimba. They couple men at a social event in 2012 and enjoyed seven years of blissful love. [PHOTO: COURTESY]

 

Our kids were planned

Ayimba and Moraa planned to have their kids and in September of 2015, they welcomed their firstborn son.

“In 2014, I sat down with Ayimba and we decided to conceive in March of 2015, but the baby was conceived early in January 2015 and we welcomed our first child on September 8, 2015. He called him Benjamin Otieno ‘Ayimba Jr’. He came early, Benjamin said maybe it is a blessing, because he had a job interview that same day. When he got the job, he dedicated it to his son.

Our second baby Hawi was born on February 14, 2018. Everyone in his family knew me.

Bitter ending

The couple parted ways in 2018, when Ayimba moved on with his new girlfriend, according to Moraa.

“We were together for seven-year from 2012 to end of 2018, when we were both broke. I had no job and I was at home with the newborn and he also did not have a job. He grew distant and he already had another girlfriend.

“We argued and when I would tell him I needed money, he would say he was broke. At some point I was homeless with my kids, I could not pay the bills and they took my household items. He had moved on with his new girlfriend and when I told him about our situation, he called some of my friends to help me but I was ashamed and lied I was okay. A friend hooked me up with a casting job and I started a fresh and bounced back.

Why I took Ayimba to court

Talking about the court darma, Moraa claims she was provoked.

“I used to take care of my kids but when our son Otieno was starting school. I asked him for school fees he dared me to take him to court. That made me so mad and I told him, I went straight to court. He ignored the court orders. After a while, I told him to be present in his kids’ life as provided for them. I have been doing so without any help from him. I can count the amount of money he sent me,” she said.

Intimate photo

Moraa adds that she learned of Ayimba’s death through a friend.

“I was in Kisii and for some reason, my phone was off. I was at a hotel with a musician friend who didn’t know how to break the news. When he did, I grew totally numb and for some time, I was blank and so sad. It has not been easy for me and his kids,” Moraa said.

She brought down an intimate photo with the late Ayimba following a request from her stepson.

“I was mourning and I just posted it, I didn’t know it was going to be controversial,” she narrated.

My kids have the right to bury their dad

Actress Moraa is unsure whether she will attend the funeral. Moraa explains that while Ayimba was hospitalized, they were not allowed to see him.

“Word on the ground is that we are not allowed to go for the burial. But I would love for his kids to give their last respects. As much as we disagreed, he is part of me and he was my soulmate; this is a man I was with for seven years and we shared so much. We went to his rural home together and everyone knows me. My kids have the right to bury their dad and they need closure. I have no problem with anyone,” she added.

United in grief

Concerning her ex-husband, she is in a good place

“We parted ways in 2011, but now we are friends, he has his family and I have mine. We respect each other and he takes very good care of his children. I would never want another father for them because he is there 24/7. He is a good man, of course, we had our issues. We got married when I was very young and we clashed along the way and separated.”

Regarding the other baby mamas in the picture, Moraa enjoys a cordial relationship with one.“Our kids love each other and they even go for sleepovers,” she said.

Moraa is now looking forward to producing her own content. “I’m working towards doing my own production. Currently, I am shooting short clips and growing my brand.”