How was bride price paid and how much was it?
The amount of livestock paid as bride price in our community has been changing. Because I am sure that what my father paid is not the same number that I also paid later on. But on average, and for a long time, the Sabaot have been paying bride price of 8 cows. This number could be less if the girl you are marrying has had a child out of wedlock, or even if she was just pregnant. But today most of the members of the Sabaot community, in most of the bride price negotiations I have attended, insist that the man should pay 13 cows. I think this could be due to the influence the Bukusu have had on us for a long time. However, these things are paid in instalments that can be spread over a very long time. Even great grandchildren can still come up to ask for what was left unpaid.
