Why Kikuyu culture frowns on second marriage for women after husbands die

In the Kikuyu culture and traditions, a widow was not meant to remarry. This was meant to protect her late husband's family identity as remarrying would mean losing the family blood line to the second man.

According to Karanja Mwangi, a Gikuyu elder and founder of Gikuyu Academy in Ruiru, a widow remained in the same compound where her husband left with her children .

"For conjugal rights, a brother to her late husband would make sure the woman is not sexually starved," he said.

"The brother would also take over as the role model of the family, a father figure and a ruler of her late brother's house," Mwangi added.

Mwangi insisted that the late husband blood was of particular importance and interest to the community and the widow remained domiciled in the compound.

"We, as Agikuyu, are different from the biblical dictates which say a woman is free to marry again after the husband dies," Mwangi said, adding:

The Bible and the Church vows insist that till death do us part and no one judges anyone for getting married upon the death of a partner, especially when the "left" partner is young."

Michael Kinuthia, another elder, says that retaining the widow at her late husband's homestead was also because of dowry issues as no parent would ever receive dowry from two men.

"If you marry anyone, dowry is expected. The late husband had paid and is recognized. So, how will the second husband pay dowry and to who?" Kinuthia posed.