Is a polygamous marriage ever peaceful and happy for all the wives, or is jealousy and competition a given?
A woman in her twenties, on Monday set her house on fire killing herself and her children in Otonglo area, Kisumu County after learning of her husband’s plans to bring in a co-wife
Rukia Wasuna reportedly locked herself and her two kids, aged 6 and 3, inside the house before setting it on fire.
Confirming the incident, Central Kisumu location Chief Simon Osege Orwa said preliminary investigations indicate that the woman’s action was as a result of a domestic disagreement.
According to the administrator, the woman’s husband was reportedly planning to marry a second wife and – on getting wind of this information – she purchased petrol from a nearby petrol station and committed the act.
Mr. Orwa added that the deceased’s husband was away working in Eldoret at the time of the incident.
A 26-year-old woman has set her house on fire killing herself and her two children aged 6 and 3, in Otonglo area, Kisumu County after learning of her husband’s plans to marry a second wife. pic.twitter.com/mBSm4rlBqz
— Stanley Sugut (@StanleySugut) December 10, 2018
Crime officers have since arrived on scene to retrieve the bodies and start probe.
When South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma burst into the limelight because of his polygamous family and controversial sex life, he got support from many Kenyan men. The 67-year old president has married five times and has 19 children. Recently, it was announced he had the 20th child, born out of wedlock with the daughter of a family friend. This sparked outrage in his country.
In a country where polygamy is now legal, many women are entering the institution of marriage as second, third or even fourth wives.
Are all of them desperate for a man, even a married one?
Are they happy? Fulfilled? Longing to get out? We talk to four women in polygamous unions who give us the lowdown.