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'90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days' Couples Now: Who's still together? Which couples have split up? Where are they now? (PHOTOS)

Benjamin Taylor and Akinyi Obala

90 Day Fiance Season: 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days, Season 3

Current Status: Married

TLC

Benjamin Taylor was a 33-year-old from Phoenix, AZ and Akinyi Obala was a 25-year-old from Nairobi, Kenya when they appeared on Season 3 of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days.

Benjamin met Akinyi on a dating app after his marriage failed to his five-year-old son Grayson's mother, Hanekawa Dravon.

Benjamin worried Akinyi was a catfish at first, but she ultimately confirmed she was the real deal. Once the pair communicated on video chat, Benjamin said he knew she was The One for him.

Benjamin said Akinyi had never dated a Caucasian man before, but they both claimed to be in love.

Benjamin therefore planned a trip to Kenya to meet Akinyi in person, and she in turn prepared to introduce her American love to her family.

In Kenyan culture, women don't bring men home to their tribes unless they plan to marry them, so Benjamin was well aware this was going to be a significant meeting and gathering.

Benjamin hoped to get to know Akinyi better before proposing marriage, but once he was in Kenya, their relationship moved fast.

Prior to meeting Akinyi's parents, Benjamin was shocked to learn that if he won over their approval and managed to negotiate a bride price, he would automatically be married to Akinyi based on tradition -- not just engaged.

Benjamin found himself in an emotional struggle because he had spent little to no time with Akinyi at all, and there had already been red flags such as Akinyi drinking too much at dinner or her overprotective brother being disappointed in Benjamin's behavior.

Benjamin also had his son to worry about back home, and he feared bringing a woman into Grayson's life when his son may not even like her or get along with her.

However, Benjamin chose to put his heart -- and his money -- on the line by proposing marriage to Akinyi shortly before negotiating the bride price, which, according to Akinyi, is a way for a man to thank a woman's parents for raising her well.

Benjamin didn't have enough money to offer Akinyi's family when the bride price was discussed, but Akinyi's father gave his blessing for their union under the agreement Benjamin would continue to send them money once he returned to the United States. (Akinyi had revealed a typical bride price is around $3,000).

Benjamin and Akinyi therefore thn considered to be married in Kenya, but Benjamin's family and friends in America were allegedly taken aback to discover he had rushed into such a relationship.

During Part 1 of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days' Season 3 Tell-All special, Akinyi and Benjamin said they were still together and seemed happy for the most part.

Benjamin said he was still waiting for Akinyi's K-1 visa to get approved so she can move to the United States and hopefully become a stepmother to Grayson, whom Benjamin shares in a 50/50 custody split with his ex-wife.

In Part 2 of the Tell-All, Akinyi's brother accused Benjamin of never having followed through with negotiating a bride price.

"He never finished everything. Benjamin owes me," Fidel declared. "Something that he can manage."

Benjamin admitted the amount of the bride price he still owed weighed on his mind, and he worried he may not be able to complete it. Benjamin planned to discuss this issue during his next visit to Kenya.

In late October, Ben's ex-wife Hanekawa Dravon took to social media and insisted she did not take his money in their divorce, as Benjamin suggested on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days.

"Petty perhaps, but since my inbox is [filled] with the question here is your answer... I didn't receive any money in the divorce. None. Not a dime. There were no lawyers, and no alimony was awarded," she insisted.

"We lived with my mother so there was no house to keep. He kept his vehicle. We didn't share a bank account -- there wasn't money to split."

Hanekawa continued, "Now what could leave someone broke after a divorce? Divorce response fee? That's around $280 in [Arizona]. Finding a place to live and starting up from nothing? Perhaps, but to say I took all his money is inaccurate."

"I know there are 3 sides to a story, but it's not my job to ensure people... believe mine; it just makes me feel better setting the record straight," she concluded.

In addition, Hanekawa revealed in her Instagram Stories that she only seems invested in Benjamin's life and his relationship with Akinyi because she loves the 90 Day Fiance franchise.

"I've been watching 90 day fiance since it started. He invaded MY space," she joked.

In January 2020, Ben posted a new selfie of Akinyi and himself on Instagram that suggested he was visiting her in Kenya again.

"Look who I found @akinyiobala #90dayfiance #90dayfiancebeforethe90days #kicc #Nairobi #kenya #kenya���� #love #tlc," he captioned the photo.

In May 2020, Ben and Akinyi appeared on 90 Day Fiance: Self-Quarantined, which gave viewers a glimpse into the lives of former 90 Day Fiance franchise stars as they quarantined themselves at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

During their 90 Day Fiance: Self-Quarantined segment, Ben and Akinyi explained the pandemic had delayed the approval of Akinyi's K-1 visa and forced the couple to reschedule their wedding.

Akinyi was therefore still living in Kenya with her mother, father, sister and two dogs -- as well as her suitcases she had already packed in anticipation of leaving for America.

During a videochat with Akinyi, Ben noted that "yesterday was the date we had reserved at the church" -- explaining the pandemic had forced the couple to have to reschedule their wedding date given Akinyi's travel to America had been delayed.

Ben told Akinyi he had rescheduled the wedding for August 29 instead.

But after their chat ended, Akinyi admitted she thought Ben was rushing the wedding a little bit and she'd prefer to wait until the end of her 90 days in the United States to make sure she likes living there and gets comfortable.

Ben and Akinyi also subsequently appeared on Season 2 of 90 Day Dairies, another 90 Day Fiance spinoff, when it was released on discovery+, the new streaming service that was launched by TLC's parent company in early 2021.

The six-episode season, released for streaming in June and July 2021, showed Akinyi finally arriving in America and planning their wedding in Arizona.

During the Season 2 finale, Ben and Akinyi got married in a small ceremony that included Akinyi's parents participating via live videochat from Kenya.

Ben and Akinyi have regularly posted updates on their life with Grayson and their pets since the 90 Day Dairies season concluded in July 2021.