"ROOTS"...The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 6:59 am
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... rl-10.html
Lawyer offers 50 cows, 70 sheep and 30 goats to marry Barack Obama's 16-year-old daughter Malia in Kenya... and says he has been 'interested' in the girl since she was 10
By Chris Pleasance
09:35 27 May 2015, updated 15:13 27 May 2015
A Kenyan lawyer has offered President Obama 50 cows, 70 sheep and 30 goats in return for daughter Malia's hand in marriage.
Felix Kiprono Matagei, who is also a student at Oxford University according to his Facebook profile, offered the livestock in order to fulfil his 'dream' of marrying Malia. He added that he has been 'interested' in Obama's daughter since his first presidential campaign in 2008, when she was just 10 years old.
Kenyan lawyer Felix Kiprono Matagei has offered 50 cows, 70 sheep and 30 goats in order to be allowed to marry President Obama's oldest daughter, Malia. Speaking to The Nairobian newspaper, he said: 'As a matter of fact, I haven't dated anyone since and promise to be faithful to her.
I have shared this with my family and they are willing to help me raise the bride price. People might say I am after the family's money, which is not the case. My love is real.'
Kiprono said he first became 'interested' in Malia during the 2008 election campaign when she was just 10 (pictured front left in 2009) Kiprono says he will propose on a hill near his home village of Litein, and at the wedding will shun champagne in favour of a traditional drink of sour milk, called mursik.
As for life after marriage, Malia can look forward to learning how to milk a cow, cooking ugali - which is a thick maize porridge - and -preparing the mursik drink 'like any other Kalenjin woman'.
Kiprono said he hopes to put the offer of marriage to Obama when he makes his first presidential visit to Kenya, the country where his father was born, in July. Obama's Kenyan grandmother, who is in her early 90s, still lives in Kogelo, in western Kenya, home to a number of the president's relatives. This is not the first time that Kiprono has propositioned the Obama family either. Earlier this month he asked Kenyan authorities to grant Obama dual American-Kenyan nationality, and present him with his citizenship when he arrives in the country later this year.
Speaking to Citizen News at the time, he said: 'Instead of the Kenyan delegation receiving Obama with a banquet of flowers, they should present him with a Kenyan identity card and passport as soon as he sets foot in Kenya. A perfect homecoming to a Kenyan son.'
The dowry, or bride price, is an ancient marriage tradition among Kenya's tribal community and is intended to ensure a strong marriage as the husband's family can demand the payment back if their daughter leaves.The typical dowry size is five years worth of the husband's income, which can either be paid in cash, or livestock, and may be paid upfront or in installments which may stretch over years.
Kiprono dismissed allegations that he is only after Malia for her family's money, insisting that his 'love is real' and that he will be faithful.
Malia is not the first presidential child to be offered a dowry in return for their hand in marriage. In 2009, Kenyan shop owner Godwin Kipkemoi Chepkurgor offered Hillary Clinton 40 goats and 20 cows in return for daughter Chelsea's hand in marriage.
Chepkurgor, who was already married to childhood sweetheart Grace at the time, said Chelsea appeared to be a 'beautiful, disciplined and well-natured woman.'Speaking to CNN at the time, he said: 'Of course I have never met her, but I like her family and how they stick together. I've waited for a long time. I'm still waiting to meet her and express my love.'
