Kenya marriages face drastic makeover

The Bill also seeks to consolidate all the marriage laws into one. There are seven Acts of Parliament relating to Marriage — Marriage Act, African Christian Marriage and Divorce Act, Matrimonial Causes Act, Subordinate Courts (Separation and Maintenance Act), Mohammedan Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, Mohammedan Marriage Divorce and Succession Act and the Hindu Marriage and Divorce Act.

All marriages under the Bill will have the same legal status. Should Parliament pass the new Bill, common spectacles of women claiming to be the groom’s wife and trying to stop a marriage ceremony will be a thing of the past.

This is because the Bill gives the disgruntled woman the right to submit her objection in writing to the Registrar, who can stop the marriage until the objection is determined.