Woman unties husband’s cows, takes them to her parents as dowry

A middle-aged woman from Shangazi Village in Marakusi, Lugari Sub-County in Kakamega County shocked neighbours on Tuesday, February 9, when she took her husband’s cows to her parents’ homestead as dowry.

The woman complained that she had lived with her husband for years, yet he was delaying rewarding her parents for raising her up.

Caroline Nang’onda Simiyu took her spouse’s two cows when he was away. One of the cows was expectant.

Augustine Muhanji, Caroline’s husband, told K24 Digital that he and his partner have lived together for 20 years, and are blessed with four children. Their fifth child is deceased.

Muhanji said he was planning to offset a dowry balance before his wife took matters into her own hands.

Muhanji’s father, Nathan Muhanji, said it was against Luhya customs for Caroline to drive off a pregnant cow.

“It is a taboo for a cow given as dowry while pregnant to give birth at the woman’s homestead,” said Nathan.

“My son had already taken two cows to Caroline’s home as dowry, and was in the process of taking another two, when his wife decided to take matters into her own hands,” said the father-in-law.