The Kenyan dating scene

One interesting little fact about Kenya that I didn’t know before coming is that they are polygamous. This in the words of my Swahili teacher does not just mean that they have more than one wife. “The mens they take as many as they can afford, not just for a wife but many many girlfriends.” In Kenya people are still using a dowry system, or bride price. Therefore the number of women you maintain directly relates to the amount of money you have. Hence I was told by a co-worker an appropriate response to a man hitting on you might be to ask how many goats he can give you. “If he says over 50 he’s a keeper. If not you keep looking, because you can do better.” Good advice. Though I have only had 4 or 5 marriage proposals, including one from the man who sold me my cell phone and then proceeded to call it every day, I think I am now prepared for the negotiations. I’ve decided I won’t settle for less than 80 goats. But they will have to throw in a cow to just for good measure.