Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has opened up about her personal life, revealing that she did not receive any dowry from her Zimbabwean husband, Magugu Mabona.
The lawmaker took to social media following a viral incident involving a city lawyer and his ex-wife, in which cows gifted as dowry were taken away in a public spectacle that was posted on social media.
For the MP, dowry is an unnecessary expense when two people want to get married, as all that matters are the vows of commitment made to each other.
"I rarely comment on people's personal lives, but I hope you see why I refused dowry payment for me. When I love a man, a simple word of 'I love you and I commit to you' suffices."
"An exchange of vows publicly shows commitment to stay together. But equating my worth to cows is a no no for me. I respect those who choose that path, though. It's just not a thing for me."
According to her, if her marriage to Mabona were to disintegrate, there would be no need for returning any livestock, whether publicly or privately.
Notably, Odhiambo's husband is not a Luo man. Luo culture dictates that dowry or at least part of it must be repaid in order to fully dissolve a customary marriage.
A part of the livestock, typically a goat and a cow, is deliberately kept by the wife's family as a symbolic act.
The cow serves as a permanent record that the woman was honourably married, and is not being returned in disgrace.
The goat represents the possibility of reconciliation, ensuring that the lines of communication between the two families remain open.
Following the weekend's events, the lawyer has been criticised for inviting bloggers and cameramen, who turned a simple customary exchange into a public spectacle.
Speaking after the incident, the ex-wife criticised the lawyer's actions as unnecessary and humiliating, saying that they were "far from the dignity we once shared"
