Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. For some people it will be flowers, chocolates, dinner plans, and soft music. For others, it will be a normal day, work, traffic, errands, life moving as usual. That’s the reality of Valentine’s in Kenya.

Not everyone is posting roses. Not everyone is on a date. But love still exists, in small, quiet, everyday ways.

This morning I passed through town near Archives. Young guys stood by the roadside selling roses, calling out “mia moja tu!” One guy stood there for a while, carefully choosing just one flower.

You could tell he didn’t have much, but the intention was real. That’s the thing about love here, it’s not always loud or expensive. Sometimes it’s simple, kidogo tu, but genuine.

On my way to Westlands, the matatu was playing slow love songs, the kind that makes everyone quiet without knowing why. People stared at their phones, but you could feel the mood change.

Then I noticed a guy send an M-PESA with the message: “For lunch tomorrow ❤️.” He smiled to himself, no noise, no big moment, just care.

And that’s when it hit me: love isn’t just about people. Love is also about care, especially care for your health.

In Kenya, many of us ignore our bodies. We push through fatigue, headaches, poor sleep, stress, constant exhaustion, telling ourselves: “ni stress tu,” “nitakuwa sawa,” “I’m still young.”

We delay health checks. We ignore small warning signs. We take care of everyone else, family, work, responsibilities, but forget ourselves.

Yet real love includes caring for your health. The kind of love that checks in on you and asks: uko sawa kweli?

Across Kenya, many people are living with untreated stress, rising blood pressure, silent diabetes, burnout, poor sleep, and mental fatigue, without realising they should talk to someone.

Preventive healthcare isn’t something to think about only when you feel sick. It’s something you protect daily , quietly, consistently.

Later in the evening, I passed by a supermarket. The chocolate shelves were almost empty, last-minute Valentine’s rush. I watched a lady pick a chocolate bar, pause for a moment, then add ice cream to her basket.

No flowers. No teddy bear. Just a quiet decision: “Kesho najijali.” And honestly, that too is love.

So as Valentine’s Day arrives, whether you’re celebrating with someone, with friends, with family, or alone, remember this:

Love your people. And love your health.

Check in on your body. If you’ve been postponing a simple check-up, book it. If something has felt off, talk to a clinician.

Rest more. Hydrate. Eat better. Move your body. And check in on someone you care about. Sometimes a simple “How are you really?” can change everything.

Flowers fade. Chocolates finish. But good health? That’s the gift that protects your life.

Love yourself enough to stay healthy. ❤️