Senator Lemaletian Cancels Wedding, Returns Sh100K Dowry After Family Background Check

Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian has publicly addressed swirling rumors about her marital status, confirming that her previously announced engagement has been called off following intervention by family elders.

In a detailed statement, the Senator Lemaletian explains that her family elders halted wedding plans in January 2025 after conducting what she described as a “thorough background check” on her prospective husband, as dictated by Samburu cultural practices.

“The elders of my family therefore halted the whole process after the background check and refused to accept dowry from that person,” stated Lemaletian, adding that the Sh100,000 dowry presented during the initial ceremony has been returned in full.

The Senator’s announcement comes after what she termed “continuous malicious media attacks” despite her attempts to maintain privacy on the matter.

She clarified that contrary to some reports, she was never married and “shall also not be married to that person whatsoever.”

Lemaletian had previously shared news of her engagement on social media, describing the proposal as an “ambush (siamu)” according to Samburu tradition.

However, the subsequent background check, a standard cultural practice among the Samburu community, appears to have revealed concerns significant enough for family elders to terminate the arrangement.

The Senator expressed profound gratitude to her family elders for their involvement and guidance, comparing their role to that which her late father would have played. “I respect the decisions of our elders and I hold them in very high regard and esteem,” she noted.

The politician has asked for privacy and a warning that any attempts to “slander” her name “out of failure to accept these decisions” would be addressed through legal channels.

She has requested that no further questions be directed to her regarding this matter.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​