In line with the Kikuyu culture and customs, before the union could be made official, the parties representing the groom and the bride had to negotiate on the bride price which took place at the Kihika family ranch in Marmanet (Nyahururu).
DP Ruto, who took part in the dowry negotiations, was the lead negotiator for the groom’s side. Before the camps for the sitting, he jokingly prepared his ‘rivals’ for the talks.
He was joined by MPs Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), Caleb Kositany (Soy), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Charles Keter (Belgut), Senators Kithure Kindiki (Tharak-Nithi) Onsemas Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo-Marakwet) and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang.
On the bride’s (Kihika) side the negotiators led by former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri, Laikipia Senator John Kinyua, MPs Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), and Nyandarua Speaker James Wahome Ndegwa.
Kiunjuri is known as a shrewd negotiator due to his knowledge of Kikuyu culture and customs which can prove useful in getting the opposing team to pay a higher dowry price.
After the negotiations, Gachagua disclosed that there was a heated moment due to a loan Kihika had taken while in the US which threatened to derail the agreement, however, DP Ruto’s team agreed to settle the debt.
“We had a heated moment there because as you know Susan lived in the US for many years and she accrued a debt which the owner wanted to be settled before the marriage could be formalised. She was getting stressed but luckily Mburu’s team led by the DP agreed to pay it,” Gachagua told guests at the ceremony.
Ruto during his speech congratulated the new couple on their nuptials noting that the talks were tense at times.
“We have learnt a lot of things from the negotiations. We have admired her for a long time and you have put a high price for her, but we agreed,” he stated.
Watch the video of the ceremony below:
The DP caused laughter after he made a joke about Mburu’s past marriage which ended in an acrimonious debate.
“My brother Mburu, this is the last time I’m escorting you to find a wife, you have taken us round many times but let this one be the last time. Every marriage has problems but the solution is always to listen to one another and solve them amicably,” Ruto stated amid laughter from the guests.
Kihika and Mburu have had a much-publicised relationship over the past eight years when they met on the campaign trail.
Mburu, a close associate of Ruto, was campaigning for the Jubilee campaign team when he met Kihika who was seeking the Nakuru Senatorial seat. She had recently returned to Kenya from a 20-year hiatus in the USA.
The Senator is a mother of two, Tiffany, 22, and Ashley, 20 – both based in the US.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
