Is it legal to marry a second wife in Kenya?
2014 polygamy legalisation In March 2014, Kenya’s Parliament passed a bill allowing men to marry multiple wives. Polygamy is common among traditional communities in Kenya, as well as among the country’s Muslim community.
Why would a man marry two wives?
One reason cited for polygyny is that it allows a man to give financial protection to multiple women, who might otherwise not have any support (e.g. widows). However, some Islamic scholars say the wife can set a condition, in the marriage contract, that the husband cannot marry another woman during their marriage.
How common is polygamy in Kenya?
Almost 1.5 million Kenyans – or 10 percent of the married population – are in a polygamous marriage, according to latest data from the Kenya Population and Housing Census. But women’s rights groups say this a gross underestimate as most of these marriages are customary and not registered.
Can a man marry two wives in civil marriage?
Your husband could have married another wife under customary law if you had agreed and if the court had agreed on the way the property was to be divided among the wives. However, he could not legally marry another woman under civil law if he was already married under customary law and had not divorced his first wife.
Can a woman marry two husbands in Kenya?
Kenya. In August 2013, Kenyan witness polyandry when two men decided to be husbands to a woman they both love. It is noteworthy that Kenyan laws don’t explicitly forbid Polyandry and legal action can’t be taken against people who practice it.
Does a man need permission to marry a second wife?
It is not obligatory for the husband, if he wants to take a second wife, to have the consent of his first wife, but it is good manners and kindness to deal with her in such a manner that will minimize the hurt feelings such thing might produce.
What is the penalty of bigamy in Kenya?
Bigamy is when a person goes through a marriage ceremony while they are still married to another wife or husband who is still alive. Furthermore, if a person’s first marriage has not been declared void in court, they are deemed to have committed bigamy. The offense of bigamy carries a 5 year prison term.
Is it a sin to have 2 wives?
“In the case of polygamy, there is a universal standard – it is understood to be a sin, therefore polygamists are not admitted to positions of leadership including Holy Orders, nor after acceptance of the Gospel can a convert take another wife, nor, in some areas, are they admitted to Holy Communion.”