Two Men Agree in “Wife-sharing” Contract
Two men from Kenya, Sylvester Mwendwa and Elijah Kimani, agreed to a "wife-sharing" contract agreement to avoid further violent rivalries.
The woman in between, a widow with two children, was reportedly having an affair with both of the men for over four years now but she cannot choose between the two.
According to a report from Daily Nation newspaper, a community police saw that Mr Mwendwa and Mr Kimani engaged in a rough fight in Mombasa County. The police officer then convinced the two men to marry the woman they are fighting about.
"We have agreed that from today we will not threaten or have jealous feelings because of our wife, who says she's not ready to let go of any of us. Each one will respect the day set aside for him. We agree to love each other and live peacefully. No-one has forced us to make this agreement," the agreement states.
According to Mr Mwendwa, the woman's parents consented to the arrangement with him promising a dowry for the bride.
Lawyers for the two men said that they can only allow the marriage to happen if the men can prove that a woman having more than one husband (polyandry) is allowed in their culture.
Judy Thongori, a local family lawyer said that their law does not prohibit polyandry.
"The laws we have do not talk about it but for such a union to be recognised in Kenya, it has to be either under the statutory law or as customary marriage. The question we should ask now is whether these people come from communities that have been practising polyandry," the lawyer said.
In an interview with BBC, Mr Mwendwa said that he had agreed to the contract not because of lewd intentions, but because he loved the woman and her children. He was also hoping that they can have children of their own.
"I have never been called a dad and her two children call me daddy. She is like the central referee. She can say whether she wants me or my colleague," Mr Mwendwa said.
People found the arrangement scandalous but Mr Mwendwa said that this is the best arrangement they can have.
"It could have been very dangerous if the other man would have come to her house and caught me... So our agreement is good as it sets boundaries and helps us keep peace."