Tony Sherman and Kendi Gloria, who met during the first protest against the Finance Bill 2024, are facing mounting pressure from their families to redo their wedding in a more formal setting. The couple, who tied the knot on August 25 in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), say they are content with their union but are being urged by in-laws to hold a traditional church wedding.
Highlights:
- Couple met during the Finance Bill 2024 protests.
- Tied the knot on August 25 in a simple ceremony in Nairobi’s CBD.
- Family members are pressuring them to hold a formal church wedding.
- Financial constraints make a second wedding difficult for the couple.
Love Amid Protests
The love story of Tony Sherman and Kendi Gloria began on June 18, 2024, during the protests against the Finance Bill. In the midst of the chaos along Tom Mboya Street, the two locked eyes, and as fate would have it, their connection was instant. As the protest raged on, they found a moment of peace in each other’s company, sparking a relationship that would soon blossom into marriage.
Barely two months later, on August 25, the couple exchanged vows in a small, impromptu ceremony in Nairobi’s CBD. The choice of venue was symbolic—a nod to the very place where they first met. But what seemed like the perfect day for them has now become a source of tension with their families.
Family Pressure for a Formal Wedding
According to the couple, their in-laws were not happy with the location and simplicity of the CBD ceremony. Many relatives felt excluded and have since been pushing the couple to host a more traditional wedding in a church. “Some in-laws are demanding we officiate our union in a formal manner and invite them. We were not ready for this because we were already married,” Sherman said.
The couple says they are happy with their current marriage but are beginning to bow to the pressure. However, financial constraints make it difficult for them to organize another wedding. Tony Sherman, a professional chef and artist, explained that they had already spent Ksh50,000 on the CBD wedding and could not afford to organize a larger, more traditional event. “I do not have the resources to do a big wedding that some family members are asking for,” he said.
Strained Relations with In-Laws
Despite the challenges, the couple is not opposed to the idea of a formal wedding if their families are willing to support them financially. “We have no problem with doing an official wedding,” they noted, but added that the burden of planning and financing such an event should be shared with those demanding it.
Background on Their Unique Wedding
Tony and Kendi’s decision to marry in the CBD was a way to bring together friends and fellow protesters who had stood by them during the Finance Bill demonstrations. “We wanted to invite all those we were with at the protest so that they could be part of the wedding,” Tony Sherman explained. Their decision to keep the event low-key allowed them to celebrate their love without the pressures of a large, expensive ceremony.
However, as family pressure continues to grow, the couple may be forced to make tough decisions about how to navigate their relationship with in-laws while staying true to their unique love story.
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