Why celebrating weddings could be more costly in Kenya

The High Court has dismissed a bid by the clergy to block increased wedding fees and new licenses which will consequently raise the cost of presiding over weddings under the Marriage Act.

A government directive on marriages subsequently stands and the contentious law takes effect immediately.

For members of the clergy to officiate marriages, they will now be required to return all marriage certificate booklets and obtain new ones at Ksh25, 000 for each 100-page booklet; an increase from the initial Ksh20, 000.

Ministers of faith are also expected to apply for renewal of licences, file returns of all marriages celebrated to date and submit church records of all marriages to be celebrated.

Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK) chairman, Bishop Mark Kariuki, together with the East African Centre for Law and Justice had sued the Kenyan government, claiming the directive would make it difficult for thousands of its citizens to celebrate and make legal their unions.

He says these consequences will stem from cancellation of church licenses as a result of failure to abide by the regulation.

Bishop Kariuki further argued that the Kenyan Constitution gives freedom of worship, hence it shouldn’t be a hindrance to get married.

Justice George Odunga had, until its overruling, suspended the clause of the Marriage Act the Attorney General had directed to take effect beginning November 1, 2014.

Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi ruled that the decree did not discriminate against Christians.

“I have not been able to find any violation of Christian faith. The Marriage Act requires that all marriages and ministers should be registered, hence there is no omission with a likelihood to cause discrimination,” she pronounced.

Conversely, Justice Ngugi said church ministers were asked to return the marriage books and acquire new ones therefore, dismissing the clergy’s assertions.