Taming Greed: Njuri Ncheke to Standardize Dowry

Kiraitu Murungi
Meru Governor Kiraitu Muriungi. A meeting between the Governor and Njuri Meeting deliberated on high dowry prices [Photo, Courtesy]
Njuri Ncheke elders will make laws that will standardize bride price to be paid by Meru and Tharaka Nithi residents.

This was agreed during a meeting with Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi in Meru on Wednesday.

The council of elders told KNA parents have been exaggerating dowry prices making them too high for the young men marrying their daughters.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting with Murungi and Education County Executive Committee (CEC) member Linnet Nkirote, the Njuri Ncheke Secretary-General Josphat Murangiri said parents have, out of greed, commercialized dowry payment.

Murangiri said that traditionally, dowry was paid in form of one she-goat or a bundle of miraa, a drum of honey, a heifer, a bull, a ram and a blanket for the girl’s mother and a coat for the girl’s father.

Njuri Ncheke
Njuri Ncheke elders [Photo, Courtesy]
However, the Njuri Ncheke official said bridegroom wedded the girl once the ‘she goat’ or ‘a miraa bundle’ was settled. The rest could be paid in installments after the couple settled.

The Njuri Secretary-General cited a case where a young man was asked to pay one million shillings as dowry.

“I got a case where a young man was asked to pay a million shillings for him to be allowed to wed. Such huge prices are unfavourable to orphaned young men and those from poor families,” explained Murangiri.

The Njuri Ncheke elder added that parents have been asking for clothes such as expensive suits and shoes contrary to the Meru culture.

“Our tradition demanded a blanket for the mother and a coat for the father. Nowadays people are asking for suits, shoes and other expensive things which are against our customary laws,” said Murangiri.

The elder said such exaggerated bride prices scare young men from legally marrying.

The Njuri elders said they will convert the traditional dowry requirements to monetary standard value that should not be exceeded.

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi called on Njuri Ncheke to form laws that will foresee uniform and balanced payment of bride price noting huge bride price has been hindering young people in Meru from marrying.

The governor said some parents have been asking for very huge bride prices to be paid to them, adding that regulating bride price will favour young people who are financially unstable during marriage.

 

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