Home » Rift Valley MP suggests end to dowry payment using cows to curb cattle rustling

Rift Valley MP suggests end to dowry payment using cows to curb cattle rustling

by Enock Ndayala

The country has in the recent past experienced rising cases of insecurity in the North Rift region due to cattle rustling.

Security experts say the ever-increasing insecurity in the region has led to the loss of hundreds of lives, displacement of residents, and loss of thousands of livestock.

As such, Soy Member of Parliament David Kiplagat has linked the ever-rising cases of banditry and cattle rustling to old-age traditions including heavy dowry payments.

The country has in the recent past experienced rising cases of insecurity in the North Rift region due to cattle rustling.
The country has in the recent past experienced rising cases of insecurity in the North Rift region due to cattle rustling.

To curb cattle rustling in the region, the lawmaker has suggested an end to the culture of giving out heads of cattle in exchange for marriage partners.

 “Dowry should be abolished and daughters were given out to marriage partners for free,” the lawmaker said.

Speaking during an interview with TV47 on Tuesday, November 15, the lawmaker urged parents to consider giving out their daughters to get married for free.

“You can imagine going for negotiations then you are asked for 60 or 90 cows. You who only have one cow will form a group and go to steal the difference from the neighboring community purposely to raise the dowry,” he added.

The Interior Ministry and National Coordination reported that nearly 500 goats, 70 heads of cattle, and 200 camels that had been stolen in Turkana, Baringo, and Isiolo counties had since been returned to their owners under the Operation Komesha Uhalifu which was recently launched by the government.

On Tuesday, the Interior Ministry reported that an ongoing operation targeting cattle rustlers and other bandits in the North Rift and other parts of the country had recovered over 700 livestock.

“Interior CS Kithure Kindiki this morning hosted leaders from West Pokot County and the neighboring Tiaty constituency in Baringo County for discussions on effective ways to combat cattle rustling and related challenges in their region,” the ministry said.

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