Title: The relevance of matrimonial gifts in Kenya. Whose laws are they anyway?

Authors: Anne Anyango Rasowo; Michael Wabomba Masinde

Addresses: School of Law, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya ' School of Law, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract: This paper examines the validity of payment/exchange of matrimonial gifts as a condition to sealing marriage under the African customary laws. The paper also critically analyses the legal position of the practice and the emergent constitutional and human rights issues that arise due to the practice. The issues include wife selling and degradation of women as a result of the payment/exchange of matrimonial gifts. The main objective of the paper is to analyse the effectiveness of Kenya's legal, judicial and legal policy framework in regards to marriage gifts.

Keywords: marriage; marriage gifts; dowry; women; Kenya.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSDS.2017.085609

International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies, 2017 Vol.2 No.1, pp.64 - 76

Accepted: 20 Feb 2017
Published online: 01 Aug 2017 *

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