Kenya’s Marriage Act: Offenses, Penalties, and New Regulations
The Kenyan Constitution and other relevant institutions regulate marriage to prevent legal violations and outline penalties for any transgressions.
Guidelines provided in the Marriage Act include fines for anyone who breaches the law.
The Marriage Act recognizes various forms of marriage such as civil, Christian, Islamic, Hindu, and traditional marriages, which can be monogamous or polygamous.
Gossipa2z.com summarized the offenses and penalties specified for all couples planning to marry.
According to the Act, anyone conducting a marriage without necessary witnesses commits a violation and may face a fine of Ksh10,000, three months in jail, or both.
The Act states that making false statements in notices of intent to marry under sections 25 or 28 is a crime punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine up to Ksh2 million, or both.
However, if someone made a statement they believed to be true, they are not considered to have committed an offense.
Those who make frivolous, malicious, or fraudulent objections face up to five years in prison, a fine of Ksh1 million, or both.
Failing to register a marriage is an offense punishable by a fine of up to Ksh5,000, community service, or both.
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Marrying someone under the legal age of 18 is an offense with penalties of up to Ksh1 million, five years in prison, or both.
If a person marries while in a prohibited marriage relationship, they may face a fine of Ksh300,000, up to five years in prison, or both.
Prohibited marriage relationships include marriages with family members such as grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and other relatives from a current or previous marriage. The penalty is exempted if the person was unaware of the relationship before marriage.
Coercing someone into marriage knowing they were intoxicated or mentally impaired is an offense with up to three years in prison, a fine of Ksh300,000, or both.
Holding a marriage ceremony without proper authorization is a crime, resulting in up to three years in prison, a fine of Ksh300,000, or both.
The government has revised regulations over the years to better govern the institution of marriage. Here are some of the latest rules.
Kenya’s Marriage Act: Offenses, Penalties, and New Regulations