Ksh.60K dowry, cheaper wedding dress: New bride price rules in Ijara

Religious leaders in Ijara, Garissa County have announced a new set of rules on bride price and wedding ceremonies in the region.

This they say is to tame extravagance and alleged extortion by potential grooms.

In the new rules, a groom is required to give four cows or an equivalent of Ksh. 60,000 which is down from the previous set Ksh. 100, 000.

Previously, the bride’s dress was set at a cost of Ksh. 50,000 but in the new rules, it should not cost more than Ksh. 20,000.

Further, the elders cut down the cost of henna, a form of decoration used to prepare the bride for the ceremony from Ksh.7, 000 to Ksh.3, 000.

This would mean that the number of people who prepare using henna are automatically reduced.

In the new rules that have elicited mixed reactions, the elders further declared the U.S. dollar as an illegal form of payment for the ceremony.

“House furniture must not exceed a dressing mirror, wardrobe, bed and cooking utensils,” a document with the new rules reads.

The elders further cut down the number of bride escorts to two, one being the bride’s mother while the convoy to the ceremony was reduced to only two cars.

“A maximum of Ksh. 10,000 will be given to the bride’s mother for wedding preparation expenses and four goats for the marriage feast,” read another new rule.

While issuing a stern warning to those who will break the new rules, the elders also abolished photography during the nuptials (Nikah).

The new rules which are set to take effect on December 1, 2019 however left an exception only where an individual may want to reduce the costs further.