Couples allowed to hold night weddings in Mombasa

Couples in Mombasa County can now hold their weddings at night after the regional police boss overturned a ban announced last week.

The Coast Regional police boss, Noah Mwivanda, said on Friday that only the Coast Regional Commissioner or himself can issue such an order.

“Night weddings can continue. We have no authority over such. If I am not aware, then that is a rumour. Don’t follow such. The curfew or night movement ban must come from me or the Regional Commissioner Bernard Leparmarai.” Mr Mwivanda said.

The night ban was issued by Mombasa County Police Commander Johnston Ipara in the wake of gang attacks on women attending night weddings.

Two rival youth groups had also clashed during a wedding two weeks ago, with both of them posting videos holding machetes promising to exact revenge

When Mr Ipara banned the traditional weddings there was an outcry from the public, lobby groups and politicians.

He said criminal gangs, mostly young men, have been targeting women who attend night weddings for

He insisted that residents only need to inform the authority of their activities (wedding) so that they are provided with security prior to their functions.

This is opposed to Mr Ipara’s directive who ordered that weddings be conducted in social halls and to end at 11pm. Most Swahili weddings are conducted throughout the night.

Mr Mwivanda said police have managed to quell the criminal gangs.

“We have moved in and done all that is humanly possible to tame the situation and they are no longer there and if they are may be isolated cases,” Mr Mwivanda said.