A bold petition to legalise polygamy for Christians in Kenya has people talking from churches to coffee shops. Boniface Ndura Koimburi, a 79-year-old businessman from Kitale, took his case to the High Court, saying current laws treat Christians unfairly and even contribute to more single moms across the country.
Koimburi filed the papers challenging parts of the Penal Code that make bigamy a crime for those married under Christian rites. He highlights that Islamic and customary marriages already allow a man to have multiple wives without any questions asked.
Why force Christians into monogamy alone, he asks, when the constitution promises equality for all? In his view, the rules push families into hiding extra marriages, leading to secrets, broken homes, and kids growing up without proper support from dads.
The old man didn’t pull these ideas out of thin air. He’s even written a book called Polygamists Also Go to Heaven, laying out how he sees nothing wrong with the practice from a biblical or cultural angle.
Many African traditions embraced it long before colonialism, he argues, and some Bible figures had multiple wives without divine punishment. Allowing open polygamy, Koimburi says, could cut down on divorces, side relationships, and the rising number of single mothers struggling alone.
The case has dragged on for months now. It started gaining attention last year when Koimburi first approached the courts in the Rift Valley region. Judges have turned down requests for a bigger panel, deciding one judge can handle it.
The Attorney General and other state offices got orders to respond, and hearings keep getting mentioned. Word is the next court date comes up on March 4, when more arguments will fly.
Supporters see fairness in what he’s saying. Kenya recognises different marriage systems – why single out Christians? Some men quietly live with multiple partners anyway, they point out, but the law leaves second families vulnerable, with no inheritance rights or official recognition. Opening it up could bring everything into the light, giving all wives and kids proper protection.
Not everyone’s buying it, though. Church leaders and women’s groups have pushed back hard. One pastor put it bluntly: this isn’t about equality; it’s about excusing infidelity under the guise of religion.
Online and in markets, opinions split right down the middle. Some women laugh it off, saying men already act like they have options – make it legal and see the chaos. Others admit cultural shifts have made strict monogamy tough for everyone.
As the March date approaches, Kenya waits to see which way the judge leans. This isn’t just about one man’s petition; it’s touching on faith, culture, rights, and how families work in modern times.
Whatever the ruling, it will spark conversations in homes and pulpits for years. For now, Boniface Ndura Koimburi has made sure polygamy stays front and centre in national debates.
