Kenya’s love lock gate: Where families, lovers go to make lifetime commitments

Some of the padlocks are engraved with initials and names of lovers, best friends and families. Others are plain – but still tell a story of commitment and love.

The keys to the padlock are sitting somewhere inside a well – several meters deep.

As the tradition demands, those who lock their love are required to throw all the keys into the well through a cylindrical protrusion jutting out of the surface.

The practice is said to have started in China where it was customary for a couple to put a lock on a gate or chain before throwing away the key.

This was meant to symbolize an eternal love because without the key, there would be no 'unlocking' it.

Once this key was thrown away, it was believed that – similarly to how the lock would remain locked forever – a couple's love would last forever.

Back to the love lock gate

A few of the padlocks look rusty – proof that they have been hanging around for a while counting days.

This is not your traditional love lock bridge you would find in France or Germany – and that’s because there is no river meandering around this area. Still this love lock spot has been making it perfectly safe for families, lovers, friends and companies to pin their commitments on the beautiful metallic gate.

The padlocks sitting on the love lock gate offer a glimpse into other people’s hearts.

“That is where you drop the keys once you have locked your padlock. The pipe connects to the well sitting deep in the ground,” says Carol Ngigi, a curator at the Arts gallery at the Evolution Science Museum at Tafaria Museums and Centre for the Arts – where the love lock gate is located.

The love lock was launched in 2019 – and has nearly 70 padlocks hanging on its frames. There is obviously a lot of space for many more padlocks.  

The project was inspired by Anne Mwiti, a lecturer of Fine Arts at the Kenyatta University.

"Symbolize your unbreakable love by locking it here. Then leave it under the towering watch of the castle and the fresh breeze from the Aberdares to flourish to eternity," reads a message from Anne Mwiti – pinned on the metal gate.

“It’s not only for lovers, even families, companies and small groups of people can lock their commitment here plus we issue participants with a certificate of love and commitment,” says Carol.

The whole process is free – and simple.

“The parties are allowed to come with a padlock that is already engraved with their names.”

“One can also by a padlock from us and have it engraved right here before locking their love,” notes Carol.

Has there been instances where a couple have returned asking to break their love lock?

“No. There has been no such cases…all the keys are thrown inside the well and no one can access them,” she says.

One of the most memorable love lock experience she says happened in December 2021 – a few months after Covid-19 hit the country.

“A family had decided to surprise their retiring parents, dad and mum who had been married for 50 years."

"They locked their love right here. It was very emotional since the parents had not expected it,” says Carol.

The Love Lock bridges are a symbol of eternal, everlasting love, a practice that started with Paris' Pont des Arts, which has since become a worldwide trend.