Beauty entrepreneur Lucy Wambui, popularly known as Phoina, has handed content creator Diana Marua two cheques worth Sh2 million for two invitations to her wedding to musician Kevin Bahati, which takes place on Friday, November 6.

Diana shared the moment in a video on her Instagram page on Tuesday, November 3, sparking fresh debate over the couple's decision to charge guests Sh1 million each to attend.

"I want to take two invites. I'm giving you two checks for two people," Phoina says in the clip, according to K24 Digital. A delighted Diana wrote that the "Beauty Mogul has Entered the chart," joking that she had expected to walk away with only a million.

Phoina to attend with her partner

Phoina, the founder of Phoina Beauty Training Institute, said she would attend the ceremony with her partner. In the same video, she announced that her institute would sponsor one student to study hair and beauty free of charge.

Diana and Phoina are long-time friends who often appear in each other's social media content, and Diana referred to her as "my Tajiri" in the post.

A wedding for 'the ballers'

The couple first announced the invite fee in early October, saying only 100 guests would be admitted and each must pay Sh1 million. "The Bahati's big day on the 6th of November is all about the ballers," Bahati said at the time, according to K24 Digital. TV47 also reported on the Sh1 million price tag and the couple's ban on cameras.

  • Guest cap: about 100 people.
  • Invite fee: Sh1 million per guest.
  • Media: no cameras, live-streaming or media coverage on the day, according to a notice the couple posted on October 29.
  • Occasion: the ceremony marks ten years of their relationship.

Forex trader Kenyan Prince was among the first to publicly buy an invite, reportedly paying Sh1 million plus an extra Sh100,000 for fuel.

Mixed reactions online

The pricing has divided fans, with some praising the couple's marketing flair and others questioning the idea of charging guests to attend a wedding. Bahati has brushed off the criticism and suggested the fee will not come down for anyone waiting for a discount.

"Finally, it's time to mark a decade of love," Bahati said when the couple announced the media ban, with Diana thanking him for "finally making this decision". The venue has not been made public.

Photos: Diana Marua/Instagram and Bahati/Instagram via K24 Digital. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.