The groom, entangled in controversy with his intended bride in Bomet, has officially canceled the wedding, extinguishing the candle of their love life altogether and changing the planned union. Mr. Amos Rono and Ms. Nelly Chepkoech Koskei will not be reconciling, opting to go their separate ways amid alleged pressure and undisclosed underlying factors, which they have not publicly addressed.
Some of the claims made by the parties could not be independently verified by the Nation, and thus, for legal reasons, cannot be included in this story.
It has surfaced that the heightened level of mistrust between the two, exacerbated by the social media frenzy over the past two days, alleged interventions, and interference by relatives and friends, has pushed the young couple to the brink.
Did you read this?
“I have let her go. I wish her well in her future life endeavours and I have nothing against her or her family. After a lot of soul searching and consultations, I have decided to remain single for now,” Mr Rono announced Sunday evening while flanked by a few of his family members.
The wedding was canceled at the eleventh hour on Saturday, sparking a storm of unverifiable accusations and counter-accusations.
Certain allegations, kept private by the parties involved, contribute to the mounting speculations surrounding the situation.
“I have cried a lot before deciding to leave the relationship for good,” Mr Rono told the Nation.
“It would not serve me well as a youth leader in the church. It is one of my lowest moments, but it is a bullet I must take.”
His statement sharply contradicted an announcement made a few hours earlier by Ms. Koskei, asserting that she had not called off the wedding as claimed. She expressed eagerness to formalize their union and embark on starting a family together.
“We were advised by the church that we could push forward the date of the wedding as the validity of the marriage permit runs to February next year,” Ms Koskei said, adding that the claims that were being bandied around in social media about her status were not true.
It has come to light that the two lovebirds had been in courtship for a year and had actively been planning their wedding for the past two months, completing the necessary procedures and processes in the church.
The unexpected announcement by Mr. Rono, releasing Ms. Koskei to seek love and companionship elsewhere, and potentially start a family, occurred even as Pastor Clement Chalulot of Kapsoyo AGC Church, slated to officiate the ceremony, asserted that the families of the bride and groom were in discussions to select a new wedding date.
“We were prepared for the wedding. We had put in place everything. But the announcement that it would be postponed came too late in the day. It was psychologically shattering to say the least,” Ms Sarah Nyige, Rono’s mother, said.
.jpeg)
However, Ms Koskei, while flanked by her father, the Reverend Charles Koskei of AGC, Chebirbelek in Sotik, was categorical that she was not the cause of the postponement.
“I am shocked by the claims that I have called off the wedding and taken off, yet I am at home with my parents and I have been eagerly waiting for the wedding to take off,” the 23-year-old woman said.
She claimed that she had been summoned by the clergy along with the bridegroom and informed that the wedding will have to be postponed for technical reasons.
“When we were both told of the postponement of the wedding, we cried a lot as a result and there is nothing we could have done about it. I am ready for the big day when it is picked,” she said, unaware of the bombshell her would-be suitor was preparing to drop a few hours later.
The communication was allegedly made at the church’s offices in Tenwek by the clergy in the presence of relatives and friends who had been invited to address the matter.
“The wedding would have proceeded on Saturday. But I was called by the area director of the African Gospel Church and informed that they needed to undergo further counseling as they had been in courtship for less than six months,” The Reverend Koskei, who confirmed that he attended the session, said.
“I have been paid five cows in the form of dowry and some money as is the tradition. God willing, the wedding will be conducted in February or April next year,” the clergy said.
The Reverend Koskei added that the hiccups relating to the wedding would be fixed and asked members of the public to ignore claims circulating in the social media.
“Some people have claimed on social media that my daughter has run away from home, yet she is with us and we are all watching the unfolding scenario. It is very unfair” he said.
“I have to take time off. I have to cool off before making another move. That (decision) certainly will not be coming soon. I have to heal, I have to be in a position where I can make sound decisions so I do not find myself in a similar or worse situation,” Mr Rono added in an interview.
But he was quick to add “I wish to confirm for the record, that I was deeply in love with her (Chepkoech) and I trusted her. But I am also well aware that what is not meant to happen, would not happen.”
