Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba’s call for rich men to embrace polygamy has received a backing from Gikuyu Cultural Association (GCA).
Speaking during a special delegates retreat held in Naivasha, the over 200 members of GCA threw their weight behind the Woman Representative’s call, terming it a step in the right direction.
In a statement, the association’s secretary general Joseph King’ori said the elders, who are the custodians of the community’s heritage and culture, have endorsed Wamuchomba’s call.
“We are fully behind the call for polygamy but only for those able to support such families. It is optional,” he said.
Last week, the former radio journalist sparked debate after she said that marrying multiple wives would be a solution to modern day societal problems including alcoholism and street families. She said that most of the immoralities in the society today are caused by raising up of children in absence of their fathers.
“It is not a standard rule for every community member to be in a polygamous relationship,” Kingori added.
Gikuyu Cultural Association chairperson Kigochi Waimiri called for legalization of polygamous marriages and accused those opposing it of hypocrisy.
“Some of them are in several secret relationships. All what we want is to see the unions legalised,” he said.
The elders pointed out that it is shameful that most extramarital relationships only come to be known after one party dies, leading to protracted legal tussles over sharing of their wealth.
Gathoni wa Muchomba grew up…
Gathoni wa Muchomba grew up in extreme poverty. Well-wishers paid her school fees and bought clothes & school uniform. Their hut ilikuwa inanyesha mpaka moto inazimika. Guess what? Her father was a polygamist and rich. Can she explain to us what trying to say giving an example of her personal life.
If this is the answer to…
If this is the answer to these problems then I feel sorry for this woman. I have three daughters and this is the least I would wish for them. Have your own daughter go down this path. My own father had four wives and the situation was not pleasant.
Ditto. As a product of a…
Ditto. As a product of a polygamous marriage and a father of a daughter, I have vowed never to go down that route or wish it on anyone. No man can love his wives equally.
My dad was polygamous. My…
My dad was polygamous. My mum being the 1st wife with 6 kids. We (children of the 1st wife) went to the best schools and had the best lives our dad could afford. My step siblings went without food, none of them went past class 3 and the boys are currently street kids. There was conspicuous double standard. I would think my dad suffered from the grass is greener on the other side syndrome. Polygamy is not the answer, we need responsible parents. Introduce child support fines or is it payment, for those men and women who can afford raising their children but fail to do so. This will cut irresponsible child bearing to half.