List Of Azimio, Kenya Kwanza Leaders At Betty Maina's Traditional Wedding [PHOTOS]

Wa Mumbi and Maina had formalized their relationship after the former visited his fiancée's parent's home in Murang'a days after their engagement.

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Apr 23, 2023 - 18:14 Updated: Apr 23, 2023 - 18:16
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List Of Azimio, Kenya Kwanza Leaders At Betty Maina's Traditional Wedding [PHOTOS]
Kenyan lawmakers attended Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi & Murang'a Woman Rep Betty Maina's Introduction ceremony on Saturday April 22, 2023. /FACEBOOK.BETTY MAINA

On Saturday, April 22, Members of Parliament (MP) from both the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja coalitions put aside their political differences and attended the officiation ceremony of their colleagues, Mathira MP Eric Wa Mumbi and Murang'a Woman Representative Betty Maina.

Their traditional wedding was known as ‘Kùhanda ithīgí‘ in Kikuyu, meaning that the groom has officially marked his territory and booked the bride.

Wa Mumbi and Maina had formalized their relationship after the former visited his fiancée's parent's home in Murang'a days after their engagement.

"Together with my family and friends, we paid the first visit to the parents of Betty N. Maina and the people of Muran'ga kùhanda Ithīgì which means that the girl is officially booked.

Kenyan lawmakers attended Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi & Murang'a Woman Rep Betty Maina's Introduction ceremony on Saturday April 22, 2023. /FACEBOOK.BETTY MAINA

"Elders from both sides initiated the process with the first steps being completed yesterday. This will be followed by rùracio ceremony at a later date," Wa Mumbi's Facebook post read.

The event is held to officially start the dowry negotiations between the bride’s and groom’s families. 

The colourful ceremony brought together lawmakers from both sides as well as Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru who even took to social media to congratulate the MPs for their newfound love. They include (MPs unless mentioned):

  1. Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga Governor)
  2. Irungu Kang'ata (Murang'a Governor)
  3. Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri Governor)
  4. Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu)
  5. Mary Muthoni (Correctional Services Principal Secretary)
  6. Babu Owino (Embakasi East)
  7. Gitonga Mukunji (Manyatta)
  8. Michael Wambugu Wainaina (Othaya)
  9. Rahab Mukami (Nyeri Woman Representative)
  10. Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West)

According to Kikuyu culture, this was the second time the groom visited the bride’s family to discuss their daughter’s marriage.

At this ceremony, MP Eric brought a young virgin sheep and goat (known as ‘mwati na harika’), symbolising the imminent marriage between the two parties.

Kùhanda ithīgí is the ceremony where the bride is officially taken off the market – the groom officially books her. After this, the MP will begin the actual dowry payment, but this is done in stages.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will lead a team of elders that will be negotiating in the marriage ceremony of the two lawmakers who are aiming to become the first sitting Kenyan MPs to tie the knot.

The two lawmakers who have been living together are set to end the two-year courtship by formally walking down the aisle.

Maina’s dowry negotiators will include her family as well as Kiharu Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro, who warned Wa Mumbi in March 2023 that they will not have it easy during the negotiations as letting go one of the daughters of Murang'a will be a tall order.

The dowry negotiations will follow Kikuyu customs and traditions which demand that parents and elders of the fiancé and fiancée meet prior to the official wedding. The man is supposed to give dowry in livestock such as goats or cash to the woman’s family.

The two met in 2021 and started dating during the 2022 campaign period. Maina was a director at the Athi Water Development Agency before he resigned to contest for the seat.

It is their second attempt at marriage having tied the knot before, and enter this union with two children each from their previous relationship. Eric had lost his first wife after her body was discovered in Hohwe Dam on May 25, 2020.

Mathira MP, Eric Wa Mumbi, and Muranga Woman Representative, Betty Maina, after Wa Mumbi proposed to Betty on April 17, 2023. /BETTY MAINA