Marriage services at the office of the Attorney General were
temporarily halted in May and it has now emerged that there might be new
regulations when operations resume.
According to State Law Office CAS Winnie Guchu, they are
waiting for communication from the Ministry of Health before reopening.
While addressing the press on Thursday, Guchu said only four
people will be allowed during the ceremony; the couple and two witnesses.
The fifth person will be the registrar of marriages.
Before the pandemic, 815 people had applied to wed at the AG
while 1754 sought certificates to wed in churches and temples.
According to Guchu, so far, only 22 applications are valid,
meaning 793 will have to re-apply.
“Those couples will have to reapply so that they go back to
the 90-day period. If we conduct the marriages after the said period they will
not be valid,” said Guchu.
Adding: “Please apply via the e-citizen platform. It is easy
and it will save time.”
Sheria House has been witness to several civil marriages in
Kenya, exacerbated in the time of the coronavirus pandemic.
Some couples who had planned to wed this year were forced to postpone or cancel their ceremonies. Others who could not wait to start their lives together turned to holding small ceremonies in church, with a limited number of guests and live streaming to their families and friends.