Wajir Groom Asked To Pay 100 Grams Of Gold As Dowry By Bride’s Father: "Too Expensive"

• A Muslim sheikh refused to officiate a Nikkah ceremony after the bride's father demanded an extravagant dowry of 100 grams of gold
• The incident ignited debates about cultural traditions, dowry norms, and the impact of shifting values on matrimonial customs
• The couple had meticulously arranged their wedding, agreeing that the bride's family would contribute a dowry of KSh 100,000, but that changed last minute

In a noteworthy turn of events, a Muslim sheikh in the Bulla Catholic area of Wajir county has gained widespread attention for declining to officiate a couple's Islamic wedding.

Why did the wedding stall?

The couple are said to have planned their wedding and mutually agreed that the bride's family would provide a KSh 100,000 dowry price.

Speaking to TUKO.co.ke Hassan Kashuqji, a close friend of the groom, said the agreement was well in place until the wedding day.

The bride's father unexpectedly demanded 100 grams of gold, an equivalent of KSh 1,000,000, in place of the previously agreed-upon price.

The Sheikh tasked with officiating the wedding took a principled stand and refused to proceed with the ceremony, citing the absurd nature of the requested dowry.

The Sheikh expressed concerns that accepting such a high dowry could set a precedent that deviated from traditional cultural norms.

"I declined to officiate yesterday's Nikkah ceremony because I thought 100 grams of gold was too expensive and would set a bad precedent culture to refer to," stated the Sheik of Wajir.

Was the request for gold dowry accepted?

Hassan further pointed out that the impasse triggered several hours of intense negotiations and consultations among the families involved.

The couple's wedding proceeded, facilitated by Wajir's Khadhi.

Hassan also revealed that this was not the first time the bride's father had requested a dowry of 100 grams of gold.

A similar request had been made for the bride's elder sister, leading to a similar negotiation process that ended in a KSh 850,000 settlement.

Despite the initial disagreement caused by the unexpected turn of events, the groom came to terms with the final decision and chose to prioritise his relationship.

The couple ultimately tied the knot, and the bride's father's demand for gold, while unusual, did not stand in the way of their union.

Man cancels marriage after fiance demands expensive wedding

In a separate story, a man cancelled his proposed wedding and dumped his girlfriend days before the event.

The man told his story in an anonymous text message sent to a Twitter influencer, Wizarab.

The man explained that the lady demanded an elaborate wedding that would have seen him spend KSh 3 million.

He said he was not ready to spend such an amount on a wedding as it amounts to waste.