Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma on Thursday advised Luo men to have multiple wives saying the law allows polygamy.
Through a post on his Facebook page, the legislator said women should not raise children alone yet men are available.
"Luo men must now add wives. We can't have our daughters bringing up our children as single mothers and you men are there.
"The law allows polygamy. Luo women have also accepted this except for a few who think a man is hers alone!" he wrote.
In the comment section, netizens asked the lawmaker to lead by example before advising them to be part of polygamous relationships.
In 2022, Luo Council of Elders Chariman Nyandiko Ongadi raised concern that young Luo men are abandoning polygamy, leading to a surge in single women.
Speaking to the Standard, Ongadi, who has eight wives, outlined the importance of polygamy saying there are duties he cannot assign his first wife.
"I am not happy with what our young men are doing today. My observation is that majority of them are monogamous. It is unfortunate that young Luo men fear polygamy like death.
"Today, my first wife who is almost my agemate is no longer active in many ways due to old age. There are some duties that I cannot assign her. But such duties are assigned to my last wife who is still youthful. Let men who are blessed with money marry at least seven wives," Ongadi said.
Traditionally, Luo men enjoyed an elevated status in society based on the number of wives they had.
When elders would come together to enjoy traditional liquor, they would sit inside a house, surrounding the drink.
A man who had one wife was often asked to sit close to the door since it was believed he would cause unnecessary disturbance in case he received news that his only wife was no more.
On the other hand, a polygamous man was considered to be 'safe' in the sense that losing one of his many wives would not bother him as much.
