Say ‘I do’ in new marriage room

• AG unveils a refurbished suite for conducting rite

A new-look marriage room has been unveiled at the Office of the Attorney-General.

And the office has already earned Sh10.5 million this financial year from civil marriages.

This amount is expected to increase, thanks to the new couples’ room, which is expected to enhance the experience of those tying the knot at the AG’s chambers.

On Monday, Attorney-General Amos Wako said the number of civil marriages had increased from 600 annually to 3,000 in the last 10 years.

Mr Wako said tourists had identified Kenya as the best marriage destination where they come for their honeymoons and holidays.

“The growing status of Kenya as a holiday destination has resulted in a bigger demand for civil marriages by tourists,” he said during the opening of the refurbished marriage room at Sheria House.

Mr Wako warned church ministers who conducted marriages that their licences would be revoked if they failed to submit returns to his office.

The failure to file the returns has affected the management of marriage records and undermined the integrated population registration system in the Ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons.

Mr Wako said that the harmonised draft constitution recognised that every adult had a right to marry a member of the opposite sex based on free consent.

“The family is the natural and fundamental unit of society and shall continue to enjoy the recognition and protection of the State,” the AG said.

Recognises

The current constitution also recognises five different systems of marriage to cater for the needs of different ethnic, religious and civil communities.

The AG said that the taskforce on laws relating to women came up with a draft Marriage Bill that was refined by the law reform commission as part of the government’s law reform agenda.

Mr Wako said the opening of the refurbished and comfortable marriage and changing rooms was further evidence of the government’s commitment to offer better services to its citizens.

He said the government was putting in place infrastructure and recruiting more staff.