Kenya launches online marriage services

Couples intending to get married can now access the service on the eCitizen portal.

State Law Office CAS Winnie Guchu on Friday stated that the move was aimed at decongesting Sheria House as the country fights Covid-19.

“There will be no more manual services at the registrar of marriage at Sheria House as all services will be available online.

“We do not want any couple coming for services at Sheria House unless it is of utmost importance,” she said.

Marriage services were temporarily suspended in May but upon resumption, around 1841 couples wanted to get married.

This put pressure on the office of the registrar of marriage, asking most of them to postpone their weddings.

In the new arrangement, those who intend to do a civil wedding will register their details on eCitizen, pay the marriage fee, book a pre-wedding interview and wait for an appointment.

“After completion of registration on the platform, couples will still be given 21-days’ notice for approval just as it was in the manual process.

“However, this process will be first rolled out in Nairobi, and thereafter in other counties after the platform takes root,” added CAS Guchu.

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 having small ceremonies in church, with a limited number of guests and live streaming to their families and friends.