It’s now legal for Kenyan men to practice polygamy. The 2014 bill that was passed by parliament allowed men to marry more than one wife, putting to an end the strict believe in monogamous marriage.
Yesterday,Kiambu Women Rep Gathoni Wamuchomba reiterated that it’s not an offense for men to marry more than one wife as long as they are able to take care of.Men from all walks of life applauded her, saying she is the only woman standing.Follwing her comments, we’d like to highlight what the law says about polygamy in Kenya.
In March 2014, Kenya’s Parliament passed a bill allowing men to marry multiple wives.[2] Polygamy is common among traditional communities in Kenya, as well as among the country’s Muslim community.[3]
In parliament, the proposed 2014 polygamy bill had initially given a wife the right to veto the husband’s choice, but male members of parliament overcame party divisions to push through a text that dropped this clause.[4] The passing of the bill caused angry female members of parliament to storm out of the late night vote on the polygamy legislation in protest.[5]
The Bill was made legislation on 1 May 2014. The Kenyan President described the act as one “which consolidates various laws relating to marriage – provides procedures for separation and divorce. It also regulates the custody and maintenance of children in the event of separation and divorce”.