By Magdalene Mukami
NAIROBI
Twenty-four-year-old Nairobi-based lawyer, Felix Kiprono, is offering 150 heads of cattle as a dowry for U.S. President Barack Obama's daughter, Malia (right on the photo).
"The offer of 50 cows, 70 sheep and 30 goats – and some honey – is the maximum offer when it comes to the customary law of the Kalenjin [Kenya's Nilotic ethnic group]," Kiprono told Anadolu Agency in an interview conducted outside Kenya's Supreme Court in capital Nairobi.
"The offer I made was the maximum offer that was initially made to the royal family [of the Kalenjin people], which includes traditional chiefs and paramount chiefs," he explained.
Kiprono said the offer was directed to President Obama as the father of Malia, who is now 17 years old.
"Kalenjin customary law is clear: when you are making a booking offer, it should be directed to the parents, not the minor," he explained.
"The minor will have the right to decide when she reaches the age of 18," the lawyer added.
Kiprono went on to say he had been "saving" himself for Malia since the day he chose her for his prospective wife.
"I came to know of the first family since 2008, when they came into the limelight," he said.
Kiprono says he has never dated anyone in his life.
"I am a stern Christian. I believe as a Christian that my body is a temple of Christ, so I can't date," he asserted.
This week, Kiprono plans to file an application with the Supreme Court's constitution and human rights division to determine whether Kalenjin customary law – and the customary laws of other ethnic tribes in Kenya – is consistent with international law.
"After the court's determination, I will be able to make the offer [of marriage] formally, because we want to operate between the legal précis of the law," he told Anadolu Agency.
Kiprono noted that it was not the first time for his family to offer such a dowry.
He said his grandmother, who hails from Kalenjin royalty, had received the same dowry.
"My grandfather had to pay the same for my grandmother, so it's just a repeat of the same offer that I am making to the Obama family," said the lawyer.
He went on to deny any suggestion that he was after the Obamas' personal wealth.
"I am not in it for the money. She [Malia] is just someone I have seen and am interested in," Kiprono told Anadolu Agency.
"That is why I am willing to part with the maximum offer for a bride that my community allows," he explained.
"In Kenya, we [the Kalenjin people] only offer the maximum amount for royalty – but I consider Malia royalty, too," Kiprono said, smiling.
He is optimistic that when President Obama visits Kenya in July, he will be granted an audience with the U.S. leader during which he plans to make the marriage offer.
Kiprono says that, if Obama – who himself has Kenyan roots – agrees to the offer, he will propose to Malia back home in Kericho.
"We will climb a hill with my bride; that's where I want to propose to her," he told Anadolu Agency.
"If she accepts, we will go down to the village, where we will celebrate with people by drinking Mursik [curdled milk], as per our customs," added Kiprono.
According to Kalenjin custom, if Obama agrees to Kiprono's offer, the young lawyer's father will travel to the U.S. to make wedding arrangements with the bride's parents.
If successful, Kiprono and his father would travel back to their home, later visiting the bride's parents for a second time.
During the visit, they will bring two goats and two heads of sheep for celebrations at the bride's home.
Once the girl has been married, she is taken to the husband's home, where a home for her will have already been built next to the home of her in-laws.
The Kalenjin people allow polygamy, but only if the husband is able to provide for all of his wives.
The Kalenjin are a Nilotic people native to the Great Rift Valley region. Kenya's fourth largest ethnic group, they are said to account for roughly 12 percent of the country's total population (putting their numbers at roughly 5.3 million).
The Kalenjin are famous for producing sports legends, especially runners like Tegla Loroupe and Wilson Kipketer.
Former Kenyan President Daniel Moi, whose rule lasted for 24 years, hailed from the Kalenjin ethnic group.
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