Makueni County Executive (CEC) in charge of water Robert Kisyula now wants the Kamba community to consider asking for water tanks as the bride price for wedding their daughters.
In a move geared to curb water shortage in the area, the cabinet member indicated that Kamba nation should now reconsider the culture on dowry negotiations that have been held up since time immemorial.
According to Kisyula, the prevailing weather patterns offer a compelling reason for the community to abandon asking for livestock for bride price.
[caption caption="A birds-eye view of parts of Makueni County"]
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"Going forward, those wedding out their daughters should now ask for at least two tanks with a capacity of at least 10,000 litres each," he indicated.
The cabinet member further added that the water tanks should now replace goats and other gifts considered during bride-price negotiations.
Most parts of Makueni are semi-arid relying heavily on the harvesting of rainwater during the rainy season to meet their daily water supply needs.
Speaking during the launch of a Ksh5.6 million water harvesting dam in Masue Village, the CEC highlighted that the county government has put in place stringent measures towards water conservation.
One such measure involves submission of a mandatory water harvesting and conservation plan by developers before any construction in the urban centres can get an approval by Makueni county government.
His sentiments have elicited various reactions across social media with a majority of netizens welcoming the move.
If you are a hubby and you are married to lady from @makuenigovt ..here is a polite reminder.
"We are still waiting for the water tank"
Na Trafic police wasisubue watu wa pick ups.Unless Wana sabotage project.@KiliMumsAndDads @KilimaniMumsPlc @kilimanimums254 @KenyanTraffic— jameni watu (@jameniwatu) July 9, 2018
Though hilarious, its a Worthy advice given that water shortage is a perennial problem in ASALs like Ukambani and the 10m3 tanks costing 75k is not way too high a bride price to pay.
— hassan abdirahman (@hassanabdirahm8) July 9, 2018
Essentially girls will be going for Ksh. 70,000 in Ukambani.
— Radio Trottoir (@TrottoirRadio) July 9, 2018
Hope Hawa mind zile za plastic? Hiyo na come nayo ikiwa mpaka na 'kiuwo'
— Muthura Muhuhe (@MuthuraMuhuhe) July 9, 2018
It's called being realistic
— Dr. Treazer Okoth, DeD (@OkothTreazer) July 10, 2018
Good workable idea
— MAN P (@ppngoche) July 9, 2018
Nakunja na tank mbili nijshindie 'osa vinya;
— Muthura Muhuhe (@MuthuraMuhuhe) July 9, 2018
In many African cultures, bride price is considered to be a purely symbolic gesture acknowledging (but never paying off) the husband's permanent debt to the wife's parents and does not entail the purchase of a woman.
Many Kenyan communities traditionally set the bride price in form of cows and goats - part of which are at times converted into money.
