Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian has ended her engagement and returned the dowry after her family elders checked the background of her fiancé. This is part of the traditions followed by her Samburu community.
In October 2024, Lemaletian had shared news of her engagement on social media and looked happy about the relationship. She praised her fiancé and was ready to settle down. But now she has confirmed that she will no longer go ahead with the marriage.
According to the senator, her elders followed Samburu traditions which require a deep background check before marriage. After checking, the elders decided not to allow the marriage to continue.
Because of this, her family returned the dowry of Ksh 100,000 that had been given during the engagement. She said the engagement was officially cancelled in January 2025.
Lemaletian thanked her family elders for guiding her through the process. She also said their support reminded her of her late father. She asked the public to respect her family’s privacy at this time.
The senator said she is not married and has no plan to marry the man she was engaged to. She also warned that anyone who tries to spoil her name will face legal action.
This message came after she faced public criticism, even though she had remained silent to avoid any problems.
“Allegations that I was married are false and unfounded, and I shall also not be married to that person whatsoever. I deeply thank our elders,” the statement reads.
“The due procedure of the Samburu culture is that a background check must be conducted before the marriage. And so it was, and THOROUGHLY,” she noted.
By Kenyans