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Dear Harold,
My fiancée and I have dated for four years and agreed to officially exchange vows in December. We want it to be either a church or garden wedding. Are there any legal requirements we need to fulfill before exchanging vows?
Collins, Nakuru
Dear Collins,
Both of you must be single, biologically male and female, over the age of 18 years old and not blood relatives. Assuming that both of you are citizens, copies of your national identity cards would be required by the Registrar of Marriage. You will be required to pay Sh600 to issue a notice of the wedding to run for 21 days before being given a date to exchange vows. If the ceremony is to take place in church, you will be required to pay some fees after the 21-day notice to obtain a registrar certificate. As for a garden wedding or any other place, a special license is essential to license the venue for a wedding at a revised fee of Sh7,000. Alternatively, you can also marry under a special license if you are not in a position to issue a 21-day notice. However, both of you will be required to produce original and copies of birth certificates, national identity cards or passports, affidavits, a divorce decree (if a divorcee) and a documented reason showing why you cannot issue a 21-day notice. Marriage fees has also been increased from Sh1,500 to Sh2,000 while Kenyans abroad will pay Sh10,000, from Sh5,000 for unions arranged in Kenya’s embassies and high commissions.
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