Former American ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannerberger won the heart of a Maasai village girl and paid dowry for her on Tuesday in a colourful ceremony held at Ololchani village, Narok county.
Ranneberger married Ruth Konchella nearly ten years ago after divorcing his first wife and paid 20 cows as dowry.
The former US envoy says that the Maasai herders have increased the price of cows from KSh 20,000 to KSh 40,000 after they heard that he was paying the dowry but described the payment of dowry as "the crowning of their 10-year relationship".
The former Ambassador said he met his wife during a tour at the Enoosaen area where he had gone to see cows donated by members of the Uasin Gishu clan to the American government, in remembrance of those who died during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.
"Ruth was among a group of women who welcomed me with a song and dance when I toured the Enoosaen area, after which we spoke briefly and she told me that she managed a non-governmental organisation known as ‘Cherise Others’ which was involved in a campaign to fight Female Genital Mutilation and early marriages," Rannerberger said.
Rannerberger’s wife Ruth was overjoyed that her husband had decided to adhere to the African customs by paying dowry to her mother.
"This is a very special day in my life since I do not know what to say but I am grateful that my husband has seen the need to comply to this very important custom to the members of the Maasai community and all Africans," she said.
The two are expected to fly to London for a holiday. Maasai culture dictates that any son-in-law marrying from the community, his relatives must first sleep in the woman’s homestead.
Ranneberger served as the US ambassador to Kenya during the 2007/08 post-election violence where he criticised the government against corruption and extra-judicial killings.