Felix Kiprono seeks to book Malia during Barack Obama's Kenya visit

In Summary

• Kiprono has fired a long shot and requested President Obama to come with Malia so that he can officially make his wishes known to both father and daughter.
• In an interview with Nation.co.ke on Friday in Nairobi, Mr Kiprono said he wants to promote the marriage customs of Kenyan communities beyond the African continent.
• His proposal to the United States first family, he claimed, was in line with his Kenyogoro clan of Kipsigis sub-tribe of Kenya's Kalenjin community.

By RICHARD MUNGUTI
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When US President Barack Obama announced his Kenya visit in March, most Kenyans and the world looked forward to what the tour would bring to global entrepreneurship.

But this is the least of expectations for young lawyer Felix Kiprono, whose heart is throbbing for only one thing: Malia Obama's hand in marriage once she grows up.

Kiprono, who is pursuing a Master's in Law at Oxford University in the UK, says his mission is to ensure "Kenyan blood returns home", in reference to President Obama whose father, Barack Obama Snr, was Kenyan.

The 24-year-old shot to fame early this year when he moved to the High Court to have Deputy President William Ruto sworn in as President after President Kenyatta left the country to attend a mention of his case at the International Criminal Court.

LONG SHOT

This time, Kiprono has fired a long shot and requested President Obama to come with Malia so that he can officially make his wishes known to both father and daughter.

In an interview with Nation.co.ke on Friday in Nairobi, Mr Kiprono said he wants to promote the marriage customs of Kenyan communities beyond the African continent.

His proposal to the United States first family, he claimed, was in line with his Kenyogoro clan of Kipsigis sub-tribe of Kenya's Kalenjin community.

“I have the full backing of Kenyogoro community in my journey to wed Malia after attaining the right age,” he said.

He said he would like the Kalenjin customary law to be recognised internationally.

Under the Kalenjin customary law, men are allowed to 'book' young girls and wait for them to mature and complete their studies before marrying them.

50 COWS

In his case, Kiprono is willing to give President Obama 50 cows, 70 sheep and 30 goats among other gifts to book the girl who has won his heart.

“It all began in 2008 when I began to love the Obama family because of the way it handled and tackled international issues. I purposed in my heart that I would propose to his daughter to accept my hand in marriage when she grows up,” he said.

“Because the girl is young and I do not want to run into problems with both the local and international law, I want to make my desire known to her father,” he said.

He said he would move to the High Court next week to file a constitutional application to validate his move on Malia.