Singer Emmy Kosgei weds Nigerian pastor

Renowned gospel musician Emmy Kosgei Saturday tied the knot with Nigerian preacher Anselm Madubuko at a lavish wedding in Nairobi.

The bride landed at the Windsor Hotel and Golf Country Club at 3 pm aboard a chartered helicopter flanked by her family.

Her entourage was then chauffeured in three sleek Range Rover Sports cars from the golf course to the garden where the wedding took place.

It was attended by who is who in the media, music and entertainment industries and was officiated by retired Redeemed Gospel Bishop Arthur Kitonga.

The groom’s two children —Salma and Velma — read bible verses. Apostle Madubuko is 55 while Emmy is 33. They exchanged vows shortly after 4 pm amid ululation and shouts of joy from the crowd.

Speaker after speaker exuded confidence that the couple would have a successful marriage owing to their strong religious backgrounds.

An elaborate reception was held at the Safari Park Hotel where family and friends dined, wined, sang and danced.

Emmy basked in glory in August 2010 during the promulgation of the new constitution when former First Lady Lucy Kibaki danced to her arguably most successful song, Taunet Nelel (a new beginning).

In the run-up to the wedding, Emmy, an award-winning Kenyan gospel musician, received flak from some Kenyans who felt the 22-year age gap between the couple was too wide.

In a recent interview with a local daily, she said: “He loves me as I am and understands what I do. I wish people would mind their own business and let us be. He approached me and asked for my hand in marriage. He is the only man who had the confidence to approach me.”

Pastor Madubuko’s first wife Connie Uzoamaka died last July due to what Nigerian media said was a cardiac arrest. They both served at the Revival Assembly Church in Lagos, Nigeria.
Back home in Nigeria, many asked why Mr Madubuko remarried “so hastely”.

He answered in a media interview: “It is how I have chosen to do it. I have decided to move on. I found out that 10 years and even 20 years will not be enough to forget my late wife. The time anybody remarries has nothing to do with your former partner.”

Speaking about how he and Emmy met, he said: “I met her in one of my trips abroad. We were both invited as guest ministers in an event. I was to minister as a preacher, while she as a music minister. When she ministered, I said to myself this girl has a good spirit. Later, I invited her as a guest artiste to perform in Azusa. People loved her and her music. I never knew things would turn out this way.”

In the interview with the Daily Sun, Pastor Madubuko said of Emmy: “Her nature, views, music and everything impressed me. People think I had something with her before, but I didn’t. If I did, I won’t be marrying her. She is morally strong. Her father is a bishop so she has strong Bible principles.” Their church wedding —the third one — will be in September at the Revival Miracle Cathedral in Lagos.

The first wedding was held at Emmy’s rural home in Kelelwa village, Nakuru area some time ago.

Emmy’s father, the Reverend Jackson Kosgei, dismissed reports of a Sh3 million bride price. He said the family only asked for four cows, four goats, a he-goat for the mother and Sh12,000 in keeping with Kalenjin traditions.