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.
Life is short. Live passionately.