A law allowing men in Kenya to marry as many women as they want was signed into law Tuesday by President Uhuru Kenyatta, despite criticism from women's groups.
A statement from the presidency confirmed that the bill, which it said "consolidates various laws relating to marriage", had been signed into law.
The bill, which amended existing legislation, was passed by parliament last month to formalize traditional practice regarding marrying more than one person.
"Marriage is the voluntary union of a man and a woman, whether in a monogamous or polygamous union," the presidential statement added.
The initial bill had 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.
When the bill was passed last month, female members of parliament stormed out of the session in fury after a heated debate.
The National Council of Churches in Kenya (NCCK), which groups more than 40 churches and Christian organizations from across the east African nation, has also spoken out against the bill.
The national Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Kenya) has also said it would mount a legal challenge against the law.
"We know that men are afraid of women's tongues more than anything else," female legislator Soipan Tuya told fellow MPs when the bill was passed.
"But at the end of the day, if you are the man of the house, and you choose to bring on another party -- and they may be two or three -- I think it behooves you to be man enough to agree that your wife and family should know," she added.
As in many parts of Africa, polygamy is common among traditional communities in Kenya, as well as in the country's Muslim community, which accounts for up to a fifth of the population.
Many have said the legislation merely acknowledges something that is already widespread.
"When you marry an African woman, she must know the second one is on the way, and a third wife... this is Africa," MP Junet Mohammed told the house during debate on the bill.
Women are not allowed to marry more than one man. — Agence France-Presse
*girls be like ''i am relocating to Kenya''..lol
Stupid uhuru. Wat do u expect from a president who smokes ganja 24/7
ReplyDeleteBut with some religion it's allowed so wtf
DeletePolyandry should also be signed into law.
DeleteKenya kwa?! Wit d very high rate of promiscuity there! Odiegwu...STDs will wipe dem off d surface of d earth na..
ReplyDeleteWhat is the big deal here? Law or no law, men marry more than one woman already and will continue to do so until Jesus returns.
ReplyDeleteMy thought exactly. @ anon 9:00. There is nothing new about this.
DeleteIf am a kenyan babe,I would rather be a single mother than marry their men....WTF...and who say its not a men world?..
ReplyDeleteNne you need to see how Kenyan babes are all over Nigerian men here in Dubai. They hate their men with passion.
DeleteIf only they will marry and remain faithful!
ReplyDeleteGurls b like kenya here I come? Haaa I will b d only odd party den!
ReplyDeleteHottie alert!!! @ diamondblinqZ I saw you today!!! Hehehe... Babe that your shape na die! We boarded same cab from central area to area one! Make I no talk too much. Me like wetin I c sha... #nohomo#
DeleteBuhahahahahah so Diamondblinqz cannot afford to take a drop? Na 'Along' she dey enter? Buhahahahahhahahahahahaha... small small all u proud idiots yansh go open. Broke babes come to SDK blog and feel like the only girl in the world,yet they don't have shishi... kikikikikikik
DeleteLinda Eze is next!
Cab from central area to area one. You see your life, you are coming here to shout.
DeleteZuma u saw diamondblinqZ? Hmm... Gimme details pls...
DeleteI used to care wat ppl think abt me until I tried to foot my bills wif their opinions... Naw qo huq transfomer or beta stil jump in front of a movinq trailer cos diamondblinqZ boarded a cab! idiats!!!
DeleteZuma u saw diamondblinqZ? Hmm... Gimme details pls...
DeleteAnd Zuma,how did you know she is the one??...and what's wrong with someone entering a cab?...come to Lagos and see big men entering keke and bike...
DeleteLoool @ anonymous fowl nyash,I have met someone from here before...she can testify..
You were on linda ikeji blog n made a comment on carol's post. Then your phone rang and your end of conversation was 'the security man should open d gate for you pack inside and drop the keys with him' leema and whoever I wasn't here to open her nyash. When you see her physically you will kn she is very comfortablenot just comfortable. And I don't see anything wrong in she boarding a cab! I love what I saw. A dark-skin pretty young lady! And diamondblinqZ you look humble too I must add. Sorry if you don't like this but I started it I just have to end it. Hv a nice day @ work today!
DeleteIf only they will marry and remain faithful!
ReplyDeleteFree ticket to spread HIV
ReplyDeleteFree ticket to spread Herpes
Free ticket to spread Ebola
Free ticket to spread STDs
Free ticket to taste many pussies
Free ticket to gather any woman of their desire
Free ticket to also kick out any one they are tired of and pick a new one
A nation that has blessed itself with sex!
A nation were sex is offered in place of kolanut!
A nation were sex is sold in the market
I wonder if they can ever exist without sex!
Pepper ose oku!
Pepper onye nkem! You nailed it
Delete'Gbam' raised to power 100!
DeleteBill or no bill, African men will forever be promiscous! See case in Port Harcourt na, man married to three wives, was with his girlfriend when he got a call from a so called babe he met on badoo and he still left the babe he was with at the time to go and meet badoo babe! So what are we talking? Women just pray for a God fearing man finish!
ReplyDeleteNa you be that hin girlfriend abi how you take know? Ikwerre girl fear God na
DeleteWhat!!!
DeleteYea! back to the stone age! Africa!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been crying since morning. My younger brother has just been diagnosed with HIV. The weight is too much. God why our family. Where did we go wrong. Lord help us stand strong in this trying time. Any advice will be useful please . He is sick with ulcer and many blisters in his mouth. We have been referred to a specialist hospital.
ReplyDeleteSorry dear. I believe God works miracles... try take him to SCOAN. God will do a miracle IJN
DeleteHIV is no longer a death sentence. What he needs is to start a treatment regimen ASAP. He's also going to need lots of love and support. Forget that it's HIV. It could have been cancer, it could have been an accident. My point is rally around him and don't ostracize him because it's HIV.
DeleteLet him go to Lasuth, get counseling and they will start him on antiretroviral. He needs his family now than b4, he will get better by making sure he takes his drugs regularly and also live a positive life.
DeleteAnon 6:33 n 8:08 said exactly wot I told a frnd who had a scare though it turned out negative. U guys need 2 be dere 4 him. It is well.
DeleteWhy does it apply to just men? What of women marrying multiple husband's after all what is good for the goose should be equally good for the women.
ReplyDeletePepper ose oku!
ReplyDeletePresent Ma!
DeletePepper the unquenchable!
Maybe we need this law in Nigeria if it will make us seat down. Atleast one will have egusi,ogbono and vegetable to taste weekly instead of one meal for the rest of once life but na War having young girls at home nowadays compare to our fathers time will be WAR ZONE.
ReplyDeleteGood news jooor! Can't wait for this to be a bill in naija... All those babe wey dey claim feminism go carry ply card tireee!
ReplyDeleteAfi ply card. How about plywood. *placard*
DeleteStella as a journalist I would have expected you to find the bill and read it before posting this misleading post. The bill only allows polygamy in customary and Islamic marriages. Christian and civil unions are monogamous.
ReplyDeleteSorry abt ur younger bro.HIV isnt a death sentence.yes,i know how bad u feel right now but u all need to b there for him more than before.he needs ur lov,support and attention.am a pharmacist in a popular govt hosp and i handle their antiretroviral drugs,counselling and diet.its unbelievable the number of patients i see daily.HIV is spreading fast.at the moment,d drugs are free.he shuld b refered to a govt hosp immediately for treatment.dont waste time going to a private hosp,most of them dont have access to the free antiretrovirals and its very expensive to buy.unfortunately,ur bro has come down with mouth thrush(an opportunistic infection).his CD4 count has to be checked immediately to know wether to place him on antiretrovirals or not.honestly,i'll really love to assist your brother and do a follow up esp bcos he wunt av to queue like other patients but am on maternity leave right now and wouldnt be resuming till ending of may.
ReplyDelete