When Kisii Senator, Richard Onyonka introduced his four wives and 12 children to the public during his mother’s funeral this week, the interwebs went wild.
Just a few days earlier the Senator had initially teased and bragged about his polygamous homestead and multiple children, but told the public he will reveal their identity during the actual burial.
The senator kept true to his words and presented his family in a light hearted moment in a rather somber environment, when his kids took to the podium and each and every one of them, introduced themselves, each mentioning their respective mothers.
A moment that lit up the room, as mourners applauded the kids’ articulation. The four wives are reportedly the former IEBC Commissioner, Roselyn Akombe, Momoima, Salome and Wanjiru.
This came hot on the heels of another polygamous family that had gripped people’s imagination a week earlier.
The funeral of former Wang’chieng Ward MCA in Karachuonyo Constituency, Homa Bay County, Peter Ojwang Kaula, sparked a national conversation after his third wife, Akinyi, delivered an emotional tribute that laid bare the realities of deception, sacrifice and coexistence in a polygamous marriage.
Held in Kamwala Village in May 2026, the burial attracted hundreds of mourners, including political leaders led by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
However, it was Akinyi’s candid speech that dominated the public attention and quickly went viral online.
Fighting back tears, Akinyi recounted how she met Kaula while in the United States, where she had been pursuing nursing studies.
She claimed Kaula convinced her that he was divorced, prompting her to abandon her studies and relocated to Kenya with him.
“I left my studies in the US to follow my late husband, Peter Kaula. I did not know the divorce papers he showed me were not genuine. He was still married,” she said.
She recalled the shock of later discovering that Kaula had another wife back home in Homa Bay.
“When we returned to Kenya, my parents were furious. They could not understand why I had abandoned my dreams for an older man. But I believed in him,” she said.
According to Akinyi, the revelation came after a friend introduced her to Kaula’s first wife, popularly known as Mama Patrick.
“It was war. I am very dramatic, I caused chaos and even told my husband I would never cook for him,” she admitted, drawing laughter from mourners.
Yet, in a twist that stunned many Kenyans online, Akinyi used much of her speech to praise the first wife, describing her as compassionate, welcoming and supportive despite the difficult circumstances.
“The reason I stayed is because I found a phenomenal woman. Do not joke with Mama Patrick, she is a woman and a half,” she said.
Akinyi revealed that during Kaula’s prolonged illness, the co-wives lived together at times and took turns caring for him in hospital, a show of unity that many mourners described as rare.
Their public display of solidarity reignited debate about polygamy in Kenya, particularly within political circles where multiple wives often emerge publicly during funerals.
Kaula, who served two terms as MCA for Wang’chieng Ward, was remembered by colleagues as a grassroots mobiliser and advocate for rural development. His death after a long illness left a gap in Homa Bay politics, but it was the revelations surrounding his family life that captured national attention.
The incident also reopened conversations about how first wives navigate the sudden public introduction of second or third wives during the funerals of prominent men.
In many cases, first wives have chosen public composure over confrontation, presenting a united family front despite the emotional complexity behind the scenes.
A similar scene played out during the burial of slain Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, where his two wives, Margaret Were and Anne Were, appeared side by side in matching outfits throughout the funeral proceedings in Homa Bay County.
The two women publicly comforted each other and jointly mourned the legislator, earning praise from mourners for their unity.
“To our precious children, your daddy’s love lives on in every story we share and every lesson he taught us,” Margaret said during her tribute.
Anne, the younger wife, described the late MP as “a great family man” and “the calm in every storm”.
Their public camaraderie contrasted sharply with the secrecy and tension that often surround polygamous unions before death exposes them to public scrutiny.
Another funeral that drew national attention was that of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, where Kenyans were formally introduced to three of his wives following his death in a road accident in December 2025.
Christine Nyokabi, Anne Kanini and Anne Lanoi all paid glowing tributes to the late politician, describing him as a generous husband who treated them equally.
“He loved us equally. He bought us gifts, perfumes, smartphones and even Gucci bags,” one of the wives said.
The burial of businessman Jackson “Mzee Kibor” Kibor in 2022 also highlighted the public dynamics of polygamy among Kenya’s elite. His wives appeared together during the funeral in Uasin Gishu County, publicly grieving the outspoken tycoon who was known for openly defending polygamy.
Even Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga once drew attention after publicly introducing his two wives during the funeral of his brother Raila Odinga’s son, Fidel Odinga.
“This is the lady who took me out of boyhood,” Oburu said while introducing his first wife, before joking that he later brought in a “helper”.
While polygamy remains culturally accepted in some Kenyan communities, including among the Luo, Luhya, Maasai and Kalenjin, modern relationships increasingly place emphasis on consent, honesty and transparency.
Marriage counselor and leadership coach Walter Bulimi says polygamy historically emerged from cultural and economic realities.
“In some communities, a second wife was introduced when the first wife could not conceive or when additional labour was needed in the homestead,” he explained.
“In certain settings, the first wife was even expected to guide and support the incoming wife.”
Kenya formally recognised polygamous marriages under the Marriage Act of 2014, allowing men to marry multiple wives under customary law without requiring the consent of existing wives, a provision that sparked criticism from women’s rights groups.
Critics argue that secrecy and deception often turn polygamy into a source of emotional trauma, especially when spouses discover hidden families after years of marriage.