For many Kenyan men today, the pressure of paying bride price alone is no longer acceptable.
According to a survey by Mwelekeo Insights, 65% of men aged 18 to 45 now believe the cost of bride price should be shared between the man and the woman.
This growing support for cost-sharing shows how financial realities are forcing people to rethink old traditions.
The study involved men from both urban and rural areas, with 50% from each, and nearly equal numbers of married and unmarried individuals.
Economic hardship came out strongly in the findings, especially among younger and unemployed men. With 53% of the participants unemployed and many facing high living costs, the idea of cost-sharing was seen as practical and necessary.
Bride price today often includes large amounts of money, livestock, clothes, and even gifts for extended family. For most young men, meeting all these demands alone is overwhelming.
Men aged between 18 and 30, who made up 52% of the respondents, were especially open to the idea of cost-sharing. Many felt that marriage should be based on partnership and equality.
They argued that if both people are building a life together, then they should also carry the load together, starting with the marriage process itself. Urban men, in particular, shared this view more strongly compared to rural men, whose traditional views remain dominant.
Cost-sharing wasn’t the only proposed reform.
An even higher number 83% said they support gradual payment of bride price over time.
This shows that most men aren’t rejecting the idea of bride price entirely, they just want a system that doesn’t start their marriage journey with stress and debt.
For 89% of respondents, bride price should be symbolic a sign of appreciation, not a fixed condition before marriage.
Still, the practice remains sensitive. While some supported reforms, others insisted bride price must remain the man’s responsibility.
There were also differing views on whether the tradition should be scrapped altogether.
48 of men said it should be abolished, while 52% wanted it maintained. However, the idea of reversing the roles was unpopular. 
When asked if women should pay bride price instead, 71% of men opposed the suggestion.
Mwelekeo Insights found that younger, urban, and more educated men are leading the push for changes like cost-sharing. They see it as a way to make marriage more affordable and fair.
The findings show that although bride price is still important to many, there’s a growing desire to modernise how it’s handled. Cost-sharing has now become a major part of the conversation, driven by financial struggle, changing values, and the need for equal partnership.
For more detailed report check them out on their official website and you can also locate them on all social media pages @MwelekeoKe.
