This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
Francis Atwoli's Polygamy: A 70-Year-Old's Plea for Forgiveness ¶
Francis Atwoli, the 70-year-old Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) boss, has pleaded with God to forgive him for marrying a second wife, citing his advancing age and need for a vibrant partner.
According to Atwoli, his busy schedule and progressing age necessitated the need for a young and able-bodied helper, who would be able to take care of him and be a great partner.
Speaking at a Kakamega county church, Atwoli assured his audience that lust and physical attraction did not drive him to the altar, but rather a desire for companionship and care as he grows older.
Atwoli pointed out that his first wife acts as a house manager back at their rural home, leaving his second wife, Mary Kilobi, to be his vibrant and youthful companion, who can escort him everywhere.
He also admitted that he is aware he has gone wrong by getting a second partner and always prays to God to forgive him for going against the holy word.
Atwoli has been known to shower his young wife Kilobi with affection through sweet words, and in 2019, he whisked her away to Seychelles and threw an intimate bash for her to mark her new year.
As a devout Catholic, Atwoli's plea for forgiveness highlights the complexities of polygamy in modern society, where traditional values often clash with modern expectations.
