Women from Kiambu County are breathing hot and cold after County Women Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba asked “able men” to marry upto five wives.
In short, her statement has been construed to mean she is rooting for polygamy.
She said this is a sure fire way to increase population in Central region where it has perpetually been suppressed by over-indulgence in alcohol and illicit brew by youths and middle aged men.
“The situation has forced young women to sire children with married men who end up abandoning them to raise the babies single-handedly.
“Let all able men to marry more than one wife and bring up children…go ahead and marry even five wives,” she said in Kiambaa on Saturday according to the Star.
Now, it is this statement that has turned the tables once again for her as Kiambu women took to social media to express their distaste with her polygamy call.
In United States of Kiambu-a county page with over 200, 000 members, Beatrice Njeri says Wamuchomba’s call was ill-advised because it goes against the norms of the bible.
“Polygamy violates the exclusiveness of marriage, so it is outside of God’s ideal.” Grace termed her outburst as “unbelievable”.
Hellen Kahenya was blunter saying “let her hubby lead, others to follow.”
On two county WhatsApp groups-Uteti wa Kiambu and Kiambu Hivi Sasa, the debate soared with majority expressing their discontentment with her leadership.
Josephine Ndumberi said: “Wamuchomba is not bringing anything tangible ni wana (it’s nonsensical). And polygamy is not the answer as well.”
Hellen Kabutu decried Kiambu electorate made a wrong choice in electing her. “Akii Kiambu tulijitupa kuchagua Gathoni. Gathoni amekuja sana this time afanye kazi aachane na boma zetu (As Kiambu people we erred in electing Gathoni. She is too much this time. Let her work and leave our homes alone).”
However, her polygamy call seems acceptable to some ladies. Njeri Njata-who described herself as single, said the women rep’s call was a good decision because single ladies will get husbands.
“But to think about it, sisi wenye hatujaolewo mnataka tuolewo na nani? Mama anajali maslahi ya girl shaod (sic) (We, the unmarried, who will marry us? Mother cares about the plight of the girl child).
Maureen Maina said women should stop hypocritical by condemning Wamuchomba because they are aware most of their husbands have “hidden kids” and it is only fair for co-wives to get to know each other.
This is the second time the county MP has stirred political waters in her backyard with her outburst.
Last year, before she was sworn in office, she was at logger heads with Kiambu electorate after she appeared on a local TV interview agitating for better pay.
Kiambu residents threatened to impeach her. And with the polygamy talk, she may have further injured the ties she has mended with her people since then.