By The Plu & Agencies
The first-ever Muslim marriage conference in Kenya has been held at Nairobi’s prestigious Boma International Convention Centre. The one-day event, held Saturday, February 10, featured a number of international speakers that sought to address relationship and family issues.
The Director of Happy Marriages, Mr Sajid Hussein, a Malaysia-based businessman, dubbed the ‘Marriage Maestro,’ said the event focused on specific Kenyan challenges and brought together hundreds of participants from across the country.
“The challenges are really different in every country we go into. There are cultural sensitivities to be aware of,” he said.
The event has been organized to enlighten participants on how to maintain happy and productive families as it addressed core challenges affecting modern relationships such as domestic violence, drug abuse and the impact of social media on families.
“Culturally it may be okay to go out dating (in Kenya) whereas in Islam we know where the line is drawn. Inter-cultural marriages are a big issue here, whereas they may not be in other areas.”
Kenyan scholars Rashid Ali Omar who is Kenya’s deputy Chief Kadhi, and other speakers confirmed a ‘crisis’ situation in Kenyan Muslim households as divorce rates continue to rise every passing day .
“The deputy chief kadhi’s office is recording upwards of 120 Muslim divorces per month. How do we work around this? This is the first platform featuring experts of different faiths to explore the institution of marriage,” said event organizer Firona Kirubi
International speakers, including ‘Love Guru’ Edris Khamissa from South Africa and Shaykh Daood Butt ‘Love Facilitator,’ addressed several hundred attendees in a circular auditorium with a series of talks branded ‘edutainment.’
The most keenly attended element of the marriage conference was the halal matchmaking facilitation service ‘Soul Seekers’ where 28 young Kenyans found their potential ‘match.’
The Marriage Event ended on a serious note. In the main arena, Mohammed Ali MBE, Artistic Director of Soul City Arts, Birmingham, UK, hurled paintballs of red and black at a vast canvas, in a cloud of dry ice to a haunting background melody provided by youth mentor and nasheed artist Faisal Salah.
“Hopefully (this will) challenge us to think about domestic violence in a way we never have before,” said Ali.
The Kenyan government is consulting Hussein on the potential for premarital courses and an ‘institute of Marriage’ to tackle issues couples may face.
