Regeringen i Nairobi vil forbyde brudepriser og lovliggøre flerkoneri – men med flere rettigheder til kvinderne – dog vil homoseksuelle ægteskaber fortsat være forbudt; stor skepsis i parlamentet.
The controversial proposals were approved by the cabinet, but will not become law until passed by parliament. As 90 percent of MPs are men, their past performance on issues of custom and tradition suggests they are likely to oppose sections of the bill, BBC online writes Sunday.
The cabinet said the bill aimed to offer legal protection to all forms of marriages in the country – Christian, Islamic, Hindu, civil and traditional.
The decision to stop the age-old custom of bride price is one of the most contentious of the proposals to harmonise the East African nation’s marriage laws. Bride prices are commonly paid by most of Kenya’s more than 40 ethnic groups.
Current customary law stipulates that a marriage is not considered legal unless a bride price has been paid, usually in the form of cows.
Even couples married in a religious or civil ceremony will often not be considered bound in the traditional sense by their families unless a payment is made.
The proposals on legalising polygamy are intended to bring civil law – where a man is only allowed one wife – in line with customary law where some cultures allow for multiple partners.
Despite allowing polygamy, the cabinet says men and women should have equal status within all marriages with regards to property and inheritance (arv).
Gay marriages would not be allowed as they are banned under Kenya’s constitution.
