On 22 November 2018, KTN senior news anchor Ben Kitili responded to online criticism that followed his wedding to Amina Mude, saying the couple would not be drawn into hostility over their interfaith union.
Kitili and Mude, who had been engaged since 2015, made their marriage official at the Attorney General’s office before hosting relatives and close friends for a wedding dinner at the Panari Hotel. The ceremony brought together a Christian groom and a Muslim bride, a detail that later triggered negative reactions from some social media users.
After the wedding, a section of Muslims voiced displeasure at the union and the couple faced abuse and religiously charged comments online. Kitili answered the backlash in a post on Wednesday evening, writing: “A beautiful day when I married the wife of my youth @amina_mude, who I promise to love and protect with my all..thank you all for your warm wishes and prayers..we are humbled.. To all my Muslim and Somali brothers and sisters, especially my shemejis from Wajir; thanks a lot for your kind words and great reception.. To those who are not so welcoming, we forgive you..you have a right to your opinion as long as you don’t cross the line..God is more important than religion..”
His message framed the criticism as a matter of opinion, while also drawing a line at abuse. He thanked supporters, including Muslim and Somali friends from Wajir, and said the couple had been humbled by the warm reception they received.
Mude did not directly address the backlash, but she publicly praised Kitili and described him as “my safe haven.”
The wedding and the reaction around it highlighted the tensions that can follow interfaith marriages in public view, especially when the couple involved are well-known figures.
