A new survey by the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) found that at least nine per cent of currently married women have co-wives.
The KDHS survey reports that of these women 12 per cent are from rural areas while five per cent are in urban areas. The number also increases with age.
Further, the percentage of women with one or more co-wives declines with the level of education and wealth quintile.
"The percentage of women in polygynous unions decreases as the wealth quintile increases; it is highest among women in the lowest wealth quintile (21%) and lowest among women in the highest quintile (4%)."
The survey shows, most married women with one or more co-wives are from the northern counties with Turkana taking the lead with 48 per cent.
The rest include; "Wajir (38%), Samburu (31%) and West Pokot (31%), while Kitui (1%), Vihiga (2%), Machakos (3%), Kiambu (3%), Tharaka-Nithi (3%), Kericho (3%), and Nakuru (3%) have the lowest percentage."
Meanwhile, the percentage of currently married men with two or more wives is at five per cent.
According to KDHS, 55% of women and 46% of men within the age bracket of 15–49 are currently in union.
Also in the same age bracket, 33% of women and 48% of men have never been married.
In terms of marriage registration: 19% of currently married couples have their marriages registered with a civil authority.
Overall, the percentage of women who are separated or divorced is slightly higher than that of their male counterparts.
"11% of women are separated or widowed compared with 5% among men."
