KAMPALA, Uganda — A Catholic priest’s remarks suggesting that men should consider taking another wife if their spouse is not supportive have triggered a heated online debate in Kenya, drawing sharply divided reactions over marriage, gender roles and financial responsibility within families.
The comments were made during a funeral service in western Kenya and have since circulated widely on social media, where the undated video has sparked intense public discussion.
In the video, the cleric argued that marriage should be centred on mutual support in building family stability and wealth, suggesting that some relationships fail when one partner does not contribute meaningfully.
“I always advise the men, if your wife does not help you build wealth and does not even maintain the wealth you already have, you get another one,” he said.
The remarks prompted visible reactions from mourners at the service, with some voices in the crowd responding in approval.
“Makofi kwa Father,” one attendee shouted.
The priest went on to link rising stress levels among men to what he described as a lack of support within households.
“Men are dying quickly from stress because they lack backup. Even from history in the Bible, a woman was a helper so you should assist your man to create wealth, don’t just be destroying what he has built,” he said.
“Be there to create, to add on what your man is doing.”
He further claimed that in many homes, most property is owned by men because, in his view, some wives contribute less financially.
The remarks quickly ignited widespread debate online, with users split between those defending the priest’s message and those criticising it as inappropriate and inconsistent with Christian teaching.
Supporters argued that the sermon reflected practical realities about financial responsibility and partnership in marriage.
Some users said the message highlighted accountability rather than promoting polygamy, framing it as advice on making careful marital choices.
One commenter wrote that the priest was encouraging responsibility within relationships, while another argued that similar advice directed at men often receives less criticism when expressed by women.
Others, however, strongly rejected the remarks, saying they undermined the principles of marriage and risk normalising harmful gender stereotypes.
Critics also questioned the appropriateness of a Catholic priest giving such advice, noting that clergy in the Catholic Church do not marry and are expected to uphold specific doctrinal teachings on marriage.
Under Catholic doctrine, marriage is considered a lifelong union between one man and one woman, and the Church does not recognise polygamy.
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The video has added to a growing trend of viral sermons and relationship commentary in Kenya that spark national conversations about gender expectations, economic pressure and changing family dynamics.
Social media users increasingly engage with such content as informal forums for debating modern relationships, often amplifying religious or cultural statements far beyond their original context.
While the Church has not officially responded to the remarks, the incident highlights the growing tension between traditional religious teachings and evolving public discourse on marriage and economic partnership in Kenyan society.
The debate continues online, where the video remains widely shared and heavily discussed across multiple platforms.
