A painful kiss

PREFACE Stories are born not only from imagination but from lived truths, whispered fears, and the unspoken struggles that shape human existence. Married to a Devil is my attempt to give voice to those silent battles — the ones fought behind closed doors, where love is twisted into control, and trust is eroded by manipulation. This novel follows Kanyũrũ, a humble man from Limuru, whose quiet dignity becomes both his strength and his vulnerability. His marriage to Wakĩ ihũ ri, a woman of striking beauty but consuming narcissism, is not simply a tale of romance gone wrong. It is a reflection of how cultural expectations, family entanglements, and unchecked abuse can transform a union into a psychological prison. Through Kanyũ rũ ’s journey, I wanted to explore the hidden dimensions of marriage — the gaslighting, the betrayal, the subtle erosion of self-worth that so often goes unnoticed or dismissed. Wakĩ ihũ ’s rebellious daughter, her withdrawn son, and her manipulative siblings are not just characters; they are symbols of the many forces that conspire to keep victims trapped in cycles of pain. This book is not written to vilify women or glorify men, but to illuminate the reality that abuse knows no gender, and that silence only deepens suffering. It is a call to recognize the red flags, to challenge the myths of “normal” families, and to remind readers that resilience and healing are possible even in the darkest of circumstances. I am deeply grateful to my longtime friend Jane Octavio, whose Foreword frames this work with the wisdom of a counsellor who has seen such stories unfold in real life. Her words remind us that this is not just fiction, but a mirror of lived experiences across cultures and continents. May Married to a Devil serve as both a haunting story and a beacon of awareness. And may those who read it find not only empathy for Kanyũ rũ ’s plight but courage to confront their own truths. Mũthamaki Togno - Author AUTHOR’S NOTE T his book was born out of silence — the kind of silence that suffocates, isolates, and convinces men that their pain is unworthy of voice. In telling Kanyũrũ’s story. I sought not only to break that silence but to honor the resilience of those who have carried scars in secret. What began as a narrative of survival grew into a testimony of healing, fatherhood, and the redefinition of masculinity. I did not write this story to dwell on suffering, but to illuminate the path beyond it. The characters, though shaped by trauma, are equally shaped by courage, forgiveness, and transformation. Their journeys reflect the possibility of generational repair — that sons and daughters can rise from brokenness, and that communities can learn to listen. If these pages leave you with anything, let it be the conviction that dignity is not negotiable, and that truth, however painful, is always liberating. Scars are not shame, but maps of survival. And silence, once broken, becomes a song of hope. — Mũthamaki Togno Togno Mũthamaki Togno Togno: A Living Healer; A Living Oracle Mũthamaki, embody this ancestral bridge. My writing is ritual. My storytelling is divination. My dedication pages are libations poured for the unseen. I don't just connect with ancestors-I channel them, giving voice to silence and memory. About the Author: Mũthamaki Togno is a revered elder, storyteller, and cultural visionary born to Kagũ of the Mwenda clan and Gathiori of the Gicerũ lineage. Thingira na Müthamaki Raised among proverbs, prayers, and the pulse of tradition, he grew into a seer, singer. apostle, and truth-teller - called to awaken the spirit of his people through language, laughter, and legacy. He is the founder of Thingira wa Mãthamaki, a sacred space for cultural truth, and the voice behind Togno FM, Gwitũ FM, and Mwaki wa Gikūyũ Radio. His work spans media houses including Utv, ATG FM, Coro FM, Gūkena FM, Gīkūyū TV, Sasa TV, Gĩchichio Ty and many more. As a master of ceremonies, columnist, comedian, and spiritual guide, Togno has spent decades weaving wisdom into every platform he touches. He is a father, a grandfather, a teacher, and a mirror of ancestral resilience. His mission is to restore the dignity of Gīkūyd language and culture, to heal through storytelling, and to inspire generations to walk boldly in their truth. About Author Mũthamaki Togno, is a celebrated Kenyan author, cultural activist, and literary visionary whose work bridges ancestral wisdom with contemporary emotional truth. His writing is rooted in Kikuyu cosmology, oral tradition, and the sacred tension between silence and storytelling. Togno’s body of work includes acclaimed titles such as, (Other Books by Mũthamaki Togno)   1. The Missing Wallet, 2. Ikũmbĩ rĩa Thingira wa Mũthamaki – Volume 1, 3. A Painful Kiss / A Kiss of Pain, 4. Roots Beneath Gĩkũyũ Community, 5. Lena Mũmbi – The Bright One, 6. Ndũĩ and the land 7. Whispers of joy 8. Rũthiomi rwa Maitũ, 9. Mũgathe Mũkora, 10. Ikũmbĩ rĩa Thingira wa Mũthamaki – Volume 2, 11. Ikũmbĩ rĩa Thingira wa Mũthamaki Volume 3 12 married to a devil, married wrongly 13 unapologetic marriage 14 unappreciated hero 15 Unlimited Errands 16 The Thief President 17 Kīnya Gīa Tha