According to the 2009 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, 60 percent of women in Kenya are married and 13 percent of these are in polygamous unions.
It also says that about 50 percent of men in Kenya are married with seven percent of them in polygamous unions. In the 21st century, such unions would be deemed to be reducing, thanks to modernisation and even the cost and standards of living which are higher and lower, respectively, which would make families want fewer dependents.
However, the KDHS reports just a slight decline in such unions over a period of five years from 2003. It points out that the proportion of married women reporting one or more co-wives has declined from 16 per cent in 2003 to 13 percent in 2008.
For married men, the proportion who report having more than one wife has declined from 10 percent to seven percent in the same period.
So what do ladies think about polygamous marriage? Would they accept to be in such a marriage?
Is one year too soon to get married after my husband died?