In the recent past, Luos were known to have many children, a situation that still exists in the villages, though on the decline.
This is a practice that began many years back, at a time when children were considered a sign of wealth, and came in large numbers since nearly all men were polygamous.
During that time when dowry was paid in cattle and goats, men would rather have many daughters to attract wealth.
This also came in handy on matters security, where a large family was considered more fortified, and having many boys was a guarantee of safety.
Boys who were and are still considered strong were entrusted with the job of protecting the family, especially their sisters and mothers who are until now considered slightly vulnerable.
According Mzee Onguko K’Owino, many children were also a guaranteed source of labor in the farms, at a time when land was vast and idle.
One did not have to promise people a portion of his grains for their labor as instead, the children would be deployed in the farm.
The situation would worsen when there was lack of a certain gender in a family, a situation that would force a man to go to any extent to get that boy or girl child.
In the event that a man had no boy or girl with his existing wives, he would take in another in an attempt to get the preferred gender.
However, this tradition has since suffered a blow due to the invasion of western civilization which is advising that the lesser the children the better.
Toughening economic conditions and rural to urban migration is also another factor to blame for the 2 or 3 children per house system we are witnessing now.
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