Mombasa Woman Rep Asha Hussein has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to lead by example in the polygamy debate and marry a second wife.
The lawmaker was speaking on Monday during a workshop on Affirmative Action in Mombasa. She said a majority of the women are against the proposal, and since the president signed the Marriage Bill into law in 2014, “he should then lead in the implementation”.
“Many women support the idea of legalising polygamy in the country but Uhuru should take the challenge by marrying a second wife and introduce her in the press for all of us to see,” Asha said.
The MP, who at first appeared to be supporting the idea of polygamy, later changed her tune after women in the hall opposed it, reports The Star.
She, however, remained non-committal if she supports or opposes polygamy.
Asha’s remarks come after Kiambu Women Rep Gathoni Wa Muchomba reignited the polygamy debate when she challenged rich Kikuyu men to marry more than one wife.
“If you are a man from the Kikuyu community and can sustain five wives, have them….if you are a man and you are in a position to bring up (many children), do it,” she said.
Asha, whose Islamic religion allows men to marry up to four wives, said even though men are allowed to marry up to four wives, Kenyan women are not ready for the same.
“We have heard about the polygamy debate. But a majority of women in the country oppose it. Therefore, we cannot impose it on people,” she said.
