Bride: He ignored me on our wedding night, chewed muguka instead

A woman has told the  Kadhi’s Court that her husband failed to consummate their marriage on their wedding night and instead spent the night chewing muguka.

The woman from Lamu, identified in court papers as AHO, said that after their glamorous Islamic wedding, her husband, MNO, failed to fulfil his marital obligations. Instead, he left her alone in bed and spent the night chewing muguka.

She told Kadhi Idris Nyaboga that her husband’s addiction to muguka had severely affected his sexual performance, falling below what she described as normal marital expectations.

“In many instances, MNO is sexually inactive due to his dependence on the Meru agricultural product,” AHO said in her court filings.

AHO said she found little happiness or fulfilment in the marriage, accusing her husband of neglecting his marital responsibilities.

She further alleged that MNO was involved with a commercial sex worker and would often return home after 2am, displaying hostility, arrogance and defiance towards her.

She added that communication between them eventually broke down after he allegedly threatened to kill her so that he could marry a woman of his choice without causing psychological distress to his father.

The couple has also been embroiled in a dispute over their place of residence, with AHO demanding that MNO establish a matrimonial home in Lamu, while he insisted on living with his parents in Kisii.

She further told  the court that matters worsened after she became pregnant, alleging that she received no medical or emotional support during the period. AHO said she was left to shoulder domestic responsibilities and manage her pregnancy alone.

She eventually left their home in Kisii and returned to her parents in Lamu, where she has refused to go back, prompting MNO to move to court seeking reconciliation.She said the marriage had been arranged while MNO was working in Qatar as a labourer.

In his defence, MNO denied being involved with commercial sex workers and rejected claims of muguka addiction. He accused his wife of being cruel and disobedient from the early stages of the marriage.

He said AHO left their matrimonial home in Kisii for Mombasa without his consent and travelled unnecessarily in a manner he suggested may have endangered her pregnancy.

However, the Kadhi directed both parties to pursue reconciliation before further legal action.