A dowry ceremony in Tana River County was left in shambles after a mother disappeared with Ksh170,000 meant for her daughter's dowry.
Reports indicate that the mother, Anne Maweni feared her in-laws would shortchange her. It emerged that the bag handed over to the elders contained wrappers instead of Ksh170,000 dowry price. It is yet to be established how and when the bag was switched with the money.
"During the ceremony, she is the one who served the guests and elders food but did not join them on the table. Nobody knew what time she left," Maweni's sister Veronica Meilu stated.
The elders avoided raising alarm in the presence of guests deciding instead to continue with the ceremony and later resolve the matter as a family.
Efforts to reach Maweni bore no fruits as the elders pointed the finger at Meilu alleging that it was a hatched scheme between the two.
"I was not aware of my sister's plans, but I was being questioned to explain how we stole the dowry money and where my sister was," Meilu stated.
The matter was soon reported to the police who launched investigations into the unusual turn of events.
The sister revealed intricate details to the police of a troubled past between Maweni and her in-laws since her husband died.
"After the demise of her husband, Maweni was left with her daughter while the in-laws took her son away. The husband's property was also shared between the in-laws," Meilu stated.
Various counties still uphold traditions during important events such as births, marriages and burial ceremonies.
In most cases, the bride price and attendant negotiations involve elders of the community and representatives from both sides of the family.
