I've often thought that the Kenyan gentleman always perform 2-3 ceremonies to validate his marriage, of which completion of any should change your marital status.

1. Customary
2. Church wedding
3. Legal signing (AG or during wedding)
and more recently
4. Six months come we stay

I'm duly informed that for those of us who are dragged through the entire 3, the court will only recognize a marriage based on your lifestyle. i.e. if you were a professed Christian and performed the customary rights, upto Itaara & Ruracio, you are still not married to the lady until you do the wedding.

My question is. When does the govt recorgnise a marriage?
Is it by your confessed lifestyle (e.g Christian hence a church wedding is a must) or by some marked event (Ruracio, church ceremony, AG appearance ...?

If you did customary rites and planning to do the wedding later on. does the govt recorgnise the two of you as married under customary law?

I'm asking for a friend *hides*

Or put a Bun in the oven and you will not realize how fast you can get married!

So if somebody goes through the customary rites but still doesn't leave with the lady. It is not yet considered a marriage.

and i'm specifically talking of the practice as it is done nowdays..
Wazees meet, lesos, sodas, visits, dowry, and some months down the line a church wedding.

I think it is... because they might look at the intention of those acts and what, according to the particular tradition, signified marriage. I also think, whether or not you profess a certain religion, as long as you have gone through the customary marriage rights and no christian wedding, you are still deemed to be marriage. This is because we are African and we are assumed to have practiced 'traditional wedding' through those rites.

PS. this is not from a legal expert.

@mcrg.... I actually thought he meant "leave the gal at the parent's home" - which didnt make sense... so i bet am also sinking with the bloody meli!

.....ei boss, that just an extra unwanted r!!!!

Marriages recognized in Kenya:

1. Statutory Marriages - African Christian Marriage (Church), Civil (AG and his officers in the Districts), Hindu (temple), Islamic (Kadhi). For these marriages you get a certificate from the state law office.

2. Customary - Ruracio, Ngurario etc etc. Once you go through all those rites, you are married. No need for papers. The wazees will come and give evidence if there is a dispute.

3. Common law marriage/ Presumption of Marriage/ marriage by reputation/ Marriage by cohabitation - You live together as man and wife and you look like a couple to the community. You can't turn around and say you were not married,unless you had entered into an agreement stating that it is only a convenience arrangement.

4. A marriage recognized by a foreign jurisdiction. The US supreme court is deciding whether gay marriages are legal or not under US constitution. If gay marriage is legal in the US and a gay couple come to live in Kenya, the Kenya law will be forced to recognize that marriage.

In a nutshell, no need of going through three ceremonies of marriage if you can avoid it i.e. customary marriage, then church/ Victorian, then civil marriage.

Note that even in church, the pastor just officiates the ceremony and the certificate is obtained from the AG's office.

You can skip all these processes, go to the AG's office, pick a date (21 days away or more), pin a notice on the notice board at Sheria house or the DC's office, turn up with 2 witnesses on the appointed date, exchange your rings and vows. Total cost Approx KShs 2,000 for the documentations... Then fly-off for the honey moon.

lucky are you if your "wife to be" will buy into this very simple yet effective marriage.

True african marriage pap!. hio ingine ni ya wazungu

In all transactions avoid brokers aka Church/pastor

Most guys i know demand their cockpit licences after the customary bit ends..
their ladies on the other hand still insist on the fairy tale day to consumate matters. thats keeping a plane in the hangar for several more months..