Image courtesy of Posta Mate

A ‘poverty report’ by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that male-headed polygamous marriages in urban areas are more likely to be poorer than those in rural areas.

Nearly 1.5 million Kenyans, some 10 percent of the married population, are in a polygamous marriage.

The report found that 54.9 percent of urban polygamous families are poor compared to 43.6 percent in rural areas.

Officially, a person is deemed to be ‘food poor’ if they consume less than Sh2,331 per month in rural areas and Sh2,905 per month in urban areas.

In short, having more than one wife is costly and a polygamous marriage fuels poverty, not alleviates it.

Difference between urban and rural areas

Why then the difference in poverty in polygamous households between rural and urban areas?

The KEBC report draws attention to the higher cost of living in urban areas compared to rural areas, with rent, food, gas, electricity and water not only have to be paid for that cost more than in the countryside.

In rural areas families often don’t have to pay rent, water, or buy food which they tend to grow themselves.

High inflation over the last year has hit urban families more, particularly in when it comes to sharp increases in the cost of food and fuel.

Marriage Act 2014

In March 2014, Kenya’s Parliament passed the Marriage Act, a bill allowing men to marry multiple wives. In particular the Act defined various types of marriage from customary, Islamic, Christian, Hindu and Muslim.

The 2014 polygamy bill as originally proposed had given a wife the right to veto the husband’s choice but male members of parliament overturned the idea and dropped the clause. Many angry female members of parliament stormed out of the late-night vote.

President Uhuru Kenyatta described the act as one “which consolidates various laws relating to marriage – provides procedures for separation and divorce. It also regulates the custody and maintenance of children in the event of separation and divorce”.

The act also defines marriage as “the voluntary union of a man and a woman whether in a monogamous or polygamous union registered under the Act”.

Kenya Forum readers may also like to see:

Polygamy will not stop the surge of single mums in Kenya (4 June, 2018)

Marriage Amendments seem hugely favourable to men (19 April, 2014)

Money over love: second wife syndrome and polygamy (22 November, 2012)

Marriage, Sex and the Single Woman in Kenya (16 September, 2011)

Polygamy in Africa: more the merrier or on man one wife? (26 April, 2012)