Nairobi’s busy Central Business District briefly became a wedding venue when a young couple exchanged vows at the Kenya National Archives, drawing a crowd of curious strangers and passers-by.
The couple, identified by their first names as Abigael and Kiragu, appeared to have planned a very different kind of wedding. Rather than a hotel ballroom or private ceremony, they chose one of the city’s busiest public spaces.
Abigael wore a white wedding gown and had her makeup carefully done. Kiragu was dressed for the occasion as the crowd gathered around them.
At one point, Kiragu went down on one knee and presented Abigael with a ring. He placed it on her finger as onlookers cheered.
For some spectators, the scene initially looked like a social media production or film shoot.
“I thought they were shooting a movie,” Muthoni Maina, who witnessed the ceremony, said.
But as the proceedings continued, it became clear to those gathered that the couple was marking what appeared to be their wedding in public.
Phones came out as shoppers, pedestrians and other members of the public watched and recorded the celebration. The busy pavement outside the Archives became an unexpected gathering place for people who had started their day with no intention of attending a wedding.
The ceremony also recalled another public wedding at the same location.
In August 2024, Tony Sherman and Kendi, who had met during anti-government protests, held a public wedding at the Kenya National Archives. Their ceremony attracted widespread attention after they exchanged vows surrounded by members of the public.
The latest wedding adds to a growing pattern of young Kenyans choosing less traditional settings to mark major moments in their lives.
Still, the public nature of the ceremony left some practical questions unanswered. It was not immediately clear from the available information who officiated the ceremony or whether it had been formally registered as a legal marriage.
For those who happened upon it, however, the questions could wait. For a few moments, one of Nairobi’s busiest streets belonged to a bride, a groom and a crowd of complete strangers who had become wedding guests.
About the Author
