Kenyan President Signs Bill Legalising Polygamy For Men

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday signed into law a controversial bill that legalises polygamy for men, overriding criticisms from women’s groups, female parliamentarians and Christian leaders.
A statement from the presidency confirmed that the bill, which it said “consolidates various laws relating to marriage,” had been signed into law.
The bill, which amended previous marriage legislation, was passed by parliament last month following heated late-night debates that saw female lawmakers storm out of the room in protest.
Supporters of the new law say it brings civil legislation in line with customary practices. While polygamous unions are common among many Kenyan tribal groups, multiple partner unions were previously not recognised by the state.
Speaking to the Associated Press on Tuesday, lawyer Judy Thongori said previous marriage laws were made by British colonialists before Kenya gained independence in 1963 and did not reflect the value systems of indigenous populations.
Kenyatta – who faces crimes against humanity charges at the ICC (International Criminal Court) for ethnic violence following the 2007 presidential election – was elected into office last year after running an anti-Western campaign that particularly targeted the US and Kenya’s former colonial power.
The presidential statement released Tuesday noted that, “Marriage is the voluntary union of a man and a woman, whether in a monogamous or polygamous union.”
Kenyan women however are not permitted to marry more than one man.