Duale wants Somalis to lower bride price

National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale has urged his fellow clansmen to lower the bride price, stating that in many instances, it is too high.

The legislator, while asking Muslim men to marry more wives and get more children, said that the dowry demanded by most families is out reach for many.

“When one approaches to wed a lady, he is asked for $10,000 (Ksh. 1 million) worth of bride price. That is ridiculous, what are you buying, a Probox?” he said.

The Garissa Township MP says more wives, means more children who will translate to more votes when it comes to voting.

“By marrying more wives, we can be stronger and have a larger influence on Kenya’s scene as the Muslim community,” he said.

“Tunataka watoto wengi ndio kura zikihesabiwa, zikue mingi kama mvua.” (We want more children so that when they count the votes, they are like rain…)

Speaking in Eastleigh, Nairobi during the Firi Festival, Duale was responding to polygamy calls by Kiambu women representative Gathoni wa Muchomba. Firi Festival is a one day cultural festival and business expo organised by the area’s business community meant to celebrate the cultural diversity of the area.

“A while back the lady from Kiambu told men of the Gikuyu community to have more than one wife, but we as the Islam community have the religious go ahead so we should marry four or more wives and have many children”, Duale said.