The nod given to chiefs to have a say on traditional marriage is outdated
The nod given to chiefs to have a say on traditional marriage is outdated
The new rule gazetted on June 9th that area chiefs will from Tuesday have a say in the registration of traditional marriages which will cost 3,900/- involving people living within their jurisdiction is outdated and is not in line with the present time or century. The problems which may occur among others,include that the chiefs may not be impartial. What if the chief has a problem with both of the people who want to get married? Chiefs are only found in their offices on particular days,won't they interfere with couples who want to get married?Some chiefs are always linked to corrupt practices, now the government has give them food on a silver platter. Also chiefs can interfere with potential marriages by objecting and misadvising the couples. These traditional marriages will be expensive and difficult to implement putting in mind that there was a marriage in Kenya which costed 100/- A chief may have an interest on one of the couples therefore l doubt if the chief can assent to the marriage. Chiefs should not be involved in this social rite as some chiefs will move around villages talking ill of those who are not married and are cohabiting. Chiefs will also contribute to men becoming polygamous, as men will bribe and befriended chiefs in order to add more wives. Some young people are not conversant with their tribes or they come from mixed families and are not conversant with customs and traditions and documenting their marriages as African traditional marriage and not Kenyan is null and void. Chiefs are not conversant with marriage acts and have not undergone in servicing of the new constitution in the area of marriages and may bring disaster. Therefore the chiefs intentions may be noble but some may mess or misuse their positions. Let Kenyans who want to get married go to churches, mosques, temples and the registrar instead of chiefs. An affidavit sworn in,is the only sure valid which should be permitted. Even religious bodies announce marriages and give time to those who want to get married,for people to come forward which is not the case with traditional chiefs marriages.
By
Veronica Onjoro
Mombasa
Comments
Post a Comment