Update: Kenyan groom breaks silence after his bride allegedly cancelled their wedding few hours to ceremony, says she has another man (video)

Amos Rono, the would-be groom whose church wedding was abruptly cancelled a few hours to the ceremony in Kapsoiyo, Bomet County, Kenya, has broken his silence.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, December 11, Rono revealed that his bride, Nelly Chekoech had asked him multiple times before they tied the knot if he would still marry her, indicating uncertainty. 

The 30-year-old accused Nelly of not being sincere with him. 

“My plans to wed Nelly Chepkoech are over because she was not sincere and only waited until the last minute when she decided to open up and declare she was dating another man and had not fully decided on marrying me,” Rono said.

He said Chepkoech broke the news through Africa Gospel Church Tenwek Director Reuben Koech that she was not ready to proceed with the wedding. 

“She broke the news through a text message to the Rev Koech that she needed time to decide and her allegation that the church postponed the wedding is a big lie,” he said.

Rono now says he has decided to end his relationship with her and would no longer wish to marry her.

“It is over between the two of us and I would like to wish her all the best. I have left her, and I hope that she does well in life or looks for another husband. I forgive her, and in the instance that she says she wants to reconcile… I have left her with a clean heart,” he said. 

Rono, who spoke to The Standard at their home in Kapsoyo Village, said at first Nelly claimed she felt she was still young and not ready to settle down for marriage.

“But after being interrogated further she revealed she had another man in her life and was not fully decided on walking down the aisle with me,” he said. 

Rono said it was heart-breaking that his bride kept him in the dark to the last minute.

“We have enjoyed good relationships with her and I was shocked that she had not told me she had another man in her life. When I proposed to her she accepted and we settled down on planning our wedding,” he added.

Rono said her last-minute revelation that she had another man in her life made him start connecting dots on recent events that transpired as they planned for the wedding.

“Imagine she convinced me that we should not organize a pre-wedding on grounds of financial constraints and instead organized a farewell at her local church in our absence,” he said.

Expressing gratitude towards Nelly’s father for his role in the wedding planning, Rono clarified that the obstacle arose from the bride’s side and not due to any issues with her family, relatives, or the church. 

“I don’t have a problem with her parents, don’t have a problem with her relatives, and don’t have a problem with the church. I just wish her success. I’ve released you with a good heart; I’ve let you go with clean hands,” he added.

Earlier, Nelly Chepkoech addressed the press, denying that she had cancelled the wedding. 

She claimed that the presiding reverend informed them about delays in obtaining crucial documents, leading to a suggestion of postponement. 

“I am 23 years old. It was supposed to be my wedding today, but yesterday (December 8) we were told the wedding could not go on as there were delays in some letters. We were waiting for the day like never before. I am at home with my parents and other people,” said Nelly.

She urged the public to refrain from casting judgment without knowing the full story and clarified that the wedding was not canceled but postponed. 

Nelly stated that the delay would allow her time to address some matters with the groom, Amos.

“I have not run away. Everyone was in tears, but some people are hurt. We were told the wedding had been postponed. We had planned the wedding since March this year. The reverend said we wait for the day. I am ready for the day that will be set,” she explained. 

Meanwhile, Rono’s mother Sara Nyigei said Chepkoech’s revelation was heart-breaking but they have agreed to let her go. 

“As a family, we have accepted her decision and she is no longer welcome as one of us in this family. We wish her all the best,” she said.

“When she first came, we welcomed her with open arms and we could not wait to see her marry my son but she has let us down and we will not accept to accommodate him here again,” Mrs Nyigei added.

Nyigei said the decision was wise to avoid a false and disruptive marriage.

“I can imagine how disruptive and chaotic their marriage would have been had she pretended and proceeded with the wedding,” she said.

Nyigei said as the groom’s family, they did everything with sincere hearts and even met part of the bargain for her dowry. 

“As we speak, we have paid dowry for her and I don’t think we let Nelly’s family down in whatever way,” she said.

Nyigei, however, said they will not hold any grudge against her for her decision.