Jomo Kenyatta, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s son, over the weekend tied the knot with his girlfriend from Luo Nyanza, Fiona Achola.
The traditional ceremony held in Karen, Nairobi, was attended by the President himself.
Fiona, Jomo’s wife to be, is the niece of Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo.
The traditional Kikuyu culture requires the man seeking hand in marriage to pay 99 goats, sheep or cattle.
In the modern setting, however, the number of cattle is converted into cash, after negotiations with the girl’s family.
Kikuyu traditions also proclaim that dowry payment never ends. The two families keep exchanging gifts, visits and assistance.
In the first official engagement, the man‘s people take 'Njohi ya njurio' (liquor for asking a hand in marriage).
The visitors are said to ‘plant a twig’ that implies they have earmarked the girl for their son.
The ritual is followed with an offering of male and female sheep to the girl’s family.
In most cases, it is accompanied with monetary gifts and when the girl‘s family accepts, the girl is symbolically engaged and the dowry negotiations and marriage arrangements kicks-off, officially.
In case the couple separates, the man’s clan can claim refund of dowry if it was not paid in full.
But if fully paid, the girl’s clan cannot surrender it and considers their daughter still married to their son-in-law devoid of circumstances.