I have been listening and digesting views by a certain woman leader from Murang’a about why polygamy should be institutionalised or constitutionalised.
I believe this lady leader is serious because she has severally voiced her views strongly and passionately at any given opportunity.
Her rationale or justification may sound simplistic to some people, but if you care to fundamental her philosophy it appears the woman is not insane.
Firstly, it is unusual for a woman, especially in Christian dominated region to support polygamy.
Secondly, one would expect such sentiments to be expressed by menfolk.
Nonetheless, here is a woman so vocal on the subject she doesn’t blink an eyelid as she narrates the pros and cons why polygamy is good for Africans.
She makes a good point about why society and generally people have become pretentious on matters polygamy.
In her narrative, she points out that men in her Kikuyu community have fathered children all over the place but due to monogamy abandoned such children to suffer unnecessary.
She also talks about how religion has played a big role by ignoring the African culture that supported polygamy since time immemorial.
Her considered opinion is that Christianity should recognise and appreciate polygamy as good for Africans.
In this regard the good lady advises her Kikuyu menfolk to marry many wives if they can afford to take care of them.
On this topic, fellow women have not come out in large numbers to support this woman leader making her appear as a lone crusader on a matter so volatile in the mainly Christian-dominated monogamous society.
In Kenya, only Muslims are constitutionally recognised polygamous. Interestingly, Constitution 2010 allows and recognises African traditional marriages.
However, it is illegal for such couples to seek civil marriage certificates from the Registrar of Marriages. Doing so they would be charged for committing the offense of bigamy.
As hypocritical or pretentious as the lady leader puts it, this has forced men to keep ‘traditional concubines’ alongside official spouses.
Indeed, this Murang’a woman leader exposes how parliamentarians boast about such exploits within earshot of women MPs to rub it in that real men should be polygamous.
Ironically, official documents such as the Declaration of Wealth, including next of kin papers issued even by banks and other institutions contain space for more than one spouse.
There is no note that such options apply strictly to Muslims.
This woman leader’s views and suggestions are yet to generate a national conversation on polygamy. The subject is among other contentious issues that in the Constitution have been left in flux.
Why would society frown on a subject so important? Should men and even women continue to hide their associations for fear of bigamy?
What about the children born out of such associations and their fate? Why would men sire children but such are not recognised by the law?
Why should legal and traditional marriages exist side by side yet the former gets more weight than the latter? Where is the convergence between morality, religion, and law in this regard?
These and more questions is perhaps what this Murang’a woman leader wishes the nation should deliberate and find solutions to.
That as it may, close scrutiny reveals a disturbing phenomenon, whereby many women and children have been left destitute after a man they have known as husband and father dies intestate or testate.
Yet during this time of constitutionalism, no leader has broached polygamy as an important issue.
If the main reason why the current constitution is being amended is to partly inject ethos in society, how on earth would that happen in an environment whereby family values and unity is dismembered?
If true that the family is the pillar of society, then in the absence of steady family bonds and ties, leaders should be honest and deal with this polygamy animal once and for all.
Society might therefore condemn, dismiss or even ignore this Murang’a woman leader for now but truth is her sentiments are relevant prompter for a national conversation about polygamy, monogamy and bigamy.
Such is the price some bold leaders must pay for their honesty.
I may state that in the fullest of time, polygamy is likely to win the day not only by finding its space in the constitution but also in the African cultural set up again.
You cannot ignore an idea whose time is approaching.
Finally, not all men in Muslim society have married many wives because of polygamy.
Therefore, not all Christian men will marry many wives because polygamy is fully legalised and embraced.
Think about it!
Kaunda wa Muchunku
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