Regardless of being Christians and following it’s teaching we have some polygamous marriages existing, in a program known as “Chama wa Mùtuùrìre” that is hosted by Njeri wa Muigai, she introduced two co wives who narrated their story and left their viewers mouths wide open.
The first wife is called Ruth Wambui Wanjohi and she is a mother of 5 children, her younger co wife is known as Catherine Wanjohi and she’s a mother of 3 children. Wanjohi is their husband who’s is a father of 8 children, both are happily married to him. They described him as a loving and caring man.
Ruth the first wife, met her husband 22 years ago, they were deeply in love that she dropped out of school at form 3 and got married at only 19 years. They both come from Nyandarua, their love blossomed and they started a family, Wanjohi used to work in a public service company via Nyandarua and Nairobi. 5 years into the marriage they had a daughter and a son together.
During that time things started changing, he started working more hours that demanded him to spend some nights in Nairobi. Ruth felt that something was not right but Wanjohi insisted it was work related issues. Her instincts were right, it was Catherine who came in and the changes in his life was because of the her.
Catherine who is the second wife met Wanjohi along his line of duty, they exchanged contacts and he begun to pursue her. After a long duration of chasing her she gave in into his advaces because he was determined to make her his wife and still stay with the first wife.
It was a tough period for Ruth a few months later she decided to leave her matrimonial home and went back to her parents house. The husband demanded her to leave behind their kids. Out of pain and anger she left. Instead of Wanjohi following her, he took her kids to Catherine in Nairobi, she took great care of her step kids. After a week Wanjohi went for Ruth at her parents home and asked her to go back home, since she wanted to build her family she agreed. Unfortunately going home she realized that the kids were in custody of the other co wife, she was furious about it but Wanjohi promised to bring them back the next day.
It was a push and pull rough journey for Ruth because it was not easy to accept her husband had married another wife. As time went on she slowly accepted the reality and a time came that they both met.
Both have found ways to co exist peacefully, take care of their husband and most importantly to respect each other by knowing which boundaries are not to be crossed. These two lovely ladies are an example that co wives can live peacefully and love each other.
