The Marriage (General) Rules

Legal Notice 61 of 2014

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The Marriage (General) Rules
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LAWS OF KENYA

MARRIAGE ACT

THE MARRIAGE (GENERAL) RULES

LEGAL NOTICE 61 OF 2014

  • Published in Kenya Gazette Vol. CXVI—No. 67 on 30 May 2014
  • Commenced on 30 May 2014
  1. [Revised by 24th Annual Supplement (Legal Notice 221 of 2023) on 31 December 2022]

1. Citation

These Rules may be cited as the Marriage (General) Rules.

2. Marriage Certificate

(1)The marriage certificate to be issued under section 21 of the Act shall be in Form MA1 set out in the First Schedule.
(2)The certificate of marriage issued under section 35 shall be in Form MA1 set out in the First Schedule.

3. Notice and Registrar's certificate under section 25

(1)A notice required to be given under section 25 of the Act shall be in Form MA2 set out in the First Schedule.
(2)The Registrar, at any time after the expiration of twenty-one days and before the expiration of three months from the date of the notice referred to in section 25 of the Act, shall issue the applicant with a certificate in the manner set out in Form MA3 of the First Schedule, upon being satisfied by affidavit that there is no legal impediment to the intended marriage.
(3)The affidavit specified under paragraph (2) may be sworn either before a Registrar or before a magistrate and shall be in Form MA4 set out in the First Schedule.

4. Certificate of no impediment

(1)An application for a certificate of no impediment to marriage under section 32 of the Act shall be in Form MA5 set out the in First Schedule.
(2)An application under paragraph 1 shall be accompanied by certified copies of the—
(a)applicant's identity card or passport;
(b)applicant's birth certificate; and
(c)intended spouse's passport.
(3)The Registrar shall, upon being satisfied that there is no legal impediment to the intended marriage, issue the applicant with a certificate of no impediment in Form MA6 set out in the First Schedule.

5. Special licence

(1)A special licence under section 33 of the Act shall be issued in instances where—
(a)any of the parties to the marriage is a foreign national;
(b)both the parties to the marriage are foreign nationals;
(c)the marriage is to be solemnised outside a licensed place; or
(d)the parties are unable to give the twenty-one day notice to the registrar of their intention to marry.
(2)An application for a special license shall be in Form MA7 set out in the First Schedule.
(3)A special license shall be in Form MA7 set out in the First Schedule.

6. When marriage can be celebrated

All marriages shall be celebrated between 8 O'clock in the morning and 6 O'clock in the afternoon.

7. Marriage Register

The Registrar shall enter the details of each marriage certificate into the Marriage Register in the manner set out in Form MA9 in the First Schedule.

8. Licensing ministers of faith

(1)A minister of faith applying for a licence under section 52(1) shall—
(a)be literate and demonstrate an understanding of the marriage process;
(b)attach a letter of recommendation from the place of worship where the minister of faith ministers;
(c)attach a copy of the registration certificate of the place of worship;
(d)attach a copy ofthe applicant's identity card or passport.
(2)A licence granted under the provisions of section 52(3) of the Act shall be in Form MA10 set out in the First Schedule.

9. Certified copy of marriage certificate and marriage register

(1)An application for a certified copy of a certificate of marriage and a register of marriage shall be in Form MA11 set out in the First Schedule.
(2)A certified copy of a certificate of marriage shall be in Form MA12 set out in the First Schedule.
(3)A certified copy of a register of marriage shall be in Form MA13 set out in the First Schedule.

10. Divorce Register

A divorce register to be established under section 60 and 61 of the Act shall be in Form MA14 set out in the First Schedule.

11. Fees

The fees specified in each item of the Second Schedule shall be payable in respect of the matter specified in that item.

FIRST SCHEDULE

FORMS

FORM MA 1(r. 2)
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
Marriage solemnised at .............................. in ................................sub-county .............................. County
Date of marriage.Marriage Entry No:
Bridegroom's NameAge.Marital status.
  
Residence at time of marriage.County.Sub-county.
Occupation.
Bridegroom's Parents' Details.
Father's name.Mother's name.
Occupation.Residence.Occupation.Residence.
Bride's name.Age.Marital status.
  
Residence at the time of marriage.County.Sub-county.
Occupation
Bride's Parents' Details..
Father's Name.Mother's Name.
Occupation.Residence.Occupation.Residence.

___________________________

FORM MA 2(r. 3(1))
NOTICE OF MARRIAGE
To the Registar of Marriages for the ................. County of Kenya.We hereby give notice that a marriage is intended to be entered into within three months from that date hereof between us the undersigned on the ............... day of.............20.......at in Kenya.
PART 1: PARTIES, DETAILS
NameConditionOccupationAgeResidenceandAddressContactInformation
Bridegroom     
Bride     
PART 2: PARENTS' DETAILS
Bridegroom's Parents  
NameOccupationResidence and Address
Father  
Mother  
Bride's Parents  
NameOccupationResidence and Address
Father  
Mother  
PART 3: PARTIES' DECLARATION
We solemnly declare that there is no impediment caused by relationship consanguinity or affinity and we know of no other legal impediment to our marriage.
Bridegroom's signature .................. Bride's signature .....................
Date ................................ Date .................................
Notes
1. Marital status can either be bachelor, spinster, widow, widower, divorced or married under customary law.2. Any person who supplies false information to a Registrar or uses, gives or sends any certificate, document or declaration required for this marriage notice which is false or forged in any way is liable to prosecution.

_____________________________________

FORM MA 3(r. 3(2))
REGISTRAR'S CERTIFICATE
I, ......................................................................., Registrar of Marriages for .................................................. County do hereby certify that on the ...................................... day of ....................... 20 ....................... notice was duly entered in the marriage notice of this sub-county of the marriage intended between the parties herein named and described at ...................... in Kenya, such notice being delivered under the hand of ............ and .............. that this to say—
NameConditionOccupationAgeResidenceandAddress
Bridegroom    
Bride    
Witnessed under my hand this .............................. day of .......................... 20...............
    Registrar.
Note-This certificate will be void unless the marriage is solemnised on or before the ............................ day of ........., 20.................

_____________________________________

FORM MA 4(r. 3(3))
AFFIDAVIT
I ........................................................................................................................................................of P.O. Box ..................................................................................................................................make oath and state as follows—
1. That a marriage is to be solemnised between me and ............................. at .............................2. That I am a ................................................................................. and the said
 (Indicate marital condition) 
.................................... is a ...............................................................................
 (Indicate marital condition) 
3. That I have, for fifteen days immediately preceding this date, been resident at ................... in the county of ..........................4. That neither I nor the said ...................................... is under age of eighteen years.5. That I solemnly declare that there is no impediment caused by relationship consanguinity or affinity and we know of no other legal impediment to our marriage.
Sworn at .......................... this ....................... day of ........................., 20...........................
Before me ...................Registar/Magistrate ...................................................(Signature of deponent)

_____________________________________

FORM MA 5(r. 4(3))
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF NO IMPEDIMENT TO MARRIAGE
To:   
THE REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGES for .........................................
WHEREAS I wish to marry ...................................................................................
  (Full name of other party)
at ...................................... in ...........................................................................................
  (Name of foreign country or place)
on the ............................ day of ...................................... 20 .........................
NOW, I hereby apply for the certificate of the Registrar of Marriages that he is not aware of any legal impediment to the intended marriage.
AND I hereby declare that I am not already married to another person.
My particulars are as follows—
1. Name: ....................................
2. Country and place of birth: ....................
3. Date of birth: ....................................
4. Sex: ................................5. Race: ...............................
6. Religion: .................................
7. Last place of residence in Kenya: ...........................
8. Occupation: .....................9. Condition: .......................................
 (e.g. bachelor, spinster, widow, widower, divorced.)
Witnessed by my hand this .......................... day of ..................... 20 .....................
(Signed) ................................

_____________________________________

FORM MA 6(r. 4(3))
CERTIFICATE OF NO IMPEDIMENT TO MARRIAGE
I, ..........................the Registrar of Marriages having made full inquiry in regard to ............
("the Applicant") formerly residing at ...........................................
HEREBY CERTIFY that I am not aware of any legal impediment to the intended marriage of the applicant to ...........................................
on the ground of an existing marriage, kindred, affinity or age.
Dated at Nairobi this....................... day of ...................... 20.........................
 ...............................................
 Registrar of Marriages

_____________________________________

  
  
FORM MA 7(r. 5(2))
APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL LICENCE
I, ........................................................................................ of ............................................Hereby apply for the grant of a Special License and I hereby make oath and say as follows—
1. A marriage is proposed to be celebrated between ........................ and myself at ............... on or about ............... day of ................ 20 ....................
2. I am not aware of any lawful impediment to the proposed marriage.
3. I am................ years of age and the said ............. is .............. years of age.
4. I am a .............. and the said ................. is a .............
 
5. Notice of the intended marriage has not been given under section 25 of the Act because — ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
 
6. I now seek dispensation from the requirements of the Act relating to the giving of notice and the issue of the certificate of the Registrar because —
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sworn at .................................... this ................ day of ............................ 20 ..........................
  Registrar of Marriages
    

_____________________________________

FORM MA 8(r. 5(3))
  
SPECIAL LICENCE
WHEREAS ...............................................................................................of ..................................................................................................being a ...................................................................... and ..................................................................................... of .................... being a .....................desire to marry and sufficient cause has been shown to my why the preliminaries required by the Act should be dispensed with:NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the Act,I do dispense with the giving of notice and issue the certificate thereby prescribed and do hereby authorise the Registrar of Marriages or recognised minister of faith to celebrate the marriage between the said—............................................................................................................ and.............................................................. ................... at ................ within ninety days from the date hereof.Such marriage may be celebrated between the hours of 8 O'clock in the morning and 5 O'clock in the afternoon.
 
Given under my hand on this ................... day of ............................ 20 ..........................0
...................................
  Registrar of Marriages

_____________________________________

FORM MA 9(r. 7)
REGISTER OF CERTIFICATE
Marriage solemnised at ......................... in ....................sub-county............County.
Date of marriage:Entry No:
Bridegroom's name:Age:Marital status:
Residence at time of marriageCounty:Sub-county:
Occupation: 
Bridegroom's father's name:Bridegroom's mother's name:
Bridegroom's father's occupation:Bridegroom' s mother' s occupation:
Bride's name:Age:Marital status:
Residence at time of marriage:County:Sub-county:
Bride's father's occupationBride's mother's occupation
Entered this ................. day of ............... 20 ....... at the CountyRegistry of Marriage at ..............................

_____________________________________

FORM MA 10(r. 8(2))
LICENCE
IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred on the Minister by section 5(3) of the Marriage Act, (Cap.150) and delegated by him to me, I hereby license the ministers of faith of the ............................ named in the Schedule hereto to celebrate marriages under the provisions of the Act.
 Dated the................................................................. 20.........................
   Registrar of Marriages
_____________________________________
SCHEDULE
  
  
  
  
FORM MA 11(r. 9(1))
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFIED COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE ORREGISTER
 
General Search Form
(Please complete this Form in BLOCK LETTERS)
Application(tick as appropriate)1. Certified copy of certificate of marriage 
2. Certified copy of marriage register. 
Details of applicant.Name 
Phone No. 
Address. 
Full name of husband 
Full name of bride 
Date of marriage 
Place of marriage 
Officiated by(Registrar or minister of faith) 
Name and address of Registryoffice/place of worship 
Entry number of Certificate orregister 
Other particulars which wouldhelp to trace the entry. 
Comments 

_____________________________________

FORM MA 12(r. 9 (2))
CERTTFIED COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE
Marriage solemnised at ..................... in .................... sub-county..............County.
Date of marriage:Entry no: 
Husband 's name:Age:Marital status:
Residence at time of marriage:County:Sub-county:
Occupation:  
Husband's father's name:Occupation:Residence:
Husband's mother's name:Occupation:Residence:
Wife's name:Age:Marital status:
Occupation: 
Wife's father's name:Occupation:Residence:
Wife's mother's name:Occupation:Residence:
Certified to be a true copy of a certificate of marriage.Given under the seal of the Registrar on the ............... day of ................. 20.....Notes-Any person who (1) falsifies any of the particulars of the certificate, or (2) uses afalsified certificate as true copy knowing it to be false, is liable to prosecution.Typed by: ............................Checked by: .......................

_____________________________________

FORM MA 13(r. 9 (3))
CERTTFIED COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE
Marriage solemnised at ................................... in .......................... sub-county,................................. county in the Republic of Kenya.
Date of marriage:Marriage Register Entry No:
Husband 's name:Age:Marital status:
   
Residence at time of marriage:County:Sub-county:
Occupation:  
Husband's father's name:Occupation:Residence:
Husband's mother's name:Occupation:Residence:
Wife's name:Age:Marital status:
Occupation: 
Wife's father's name:Occupation:Residence:
Wife's mother's name:Occupation:Residence:
Certified to be a true copy of an entry of marriage in the Marriage Register.Given under the seal of the Registrar on the ............... day of ................. 20.....Notes-Any person who (1) falsifies any of the particulars of the certificate, or (2) uses afalsified certificate as true copy knowing it to be false, is liable to prosecution.Typed by: ............................Checked by: .......................

_____________________________________

  
  
  
  
  
FORM MA 14(r. 10)
DIVORCE REGISTER
Marriage District:Marriage Register Entry Number:
Where married:Date of marriage:
Husband's Name:Age at time of marriage:Condition:
Residence at time of marriage:County:Sub-county:
Wife's name:Age at time of marriage:Condition:
Residence at time of marriageCounty:Sub-county:
DIVORCE INFORMATION
Name of petitioner: 
Name of respondent: 
Case citation: 
Date when divorce was issued:Place of issue:
Country:
County:
Entered this ............... day of ......................... 20........................... at the Registrar of Marriagesoffice at ...................................
REGISTRAR.

SECOND SCHEDULE [r. 11]

FEES

 
ITEM  Kshs.
1.Notice of marriage600
2.Solemnisation of marriage2,000
3.Issuance of marriage certificate500
4.Issuance of a certified copy of marriage certificate600
5.Commissioning of affidavit200
6.Search of marriage certificate500
7.Issuance of Registrar's certificate600
8.Application for certificate of no impediment to marriage10,000
9.Verification of certificate of no impediment to marriage1,000
10.Amendment of marriage record200
11.Registration of foreign marriage1,000
12.Licensing of minister of faith1,000
13.Renewal of license of minister of faith1,000
14.Revocation of licence of minister of faith1,000
15.Special license7,000
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History of this document

31 December 2022 this version