Financial infidelity: When money secrets shake a marriage

Partners who come to learn of such financial secrets describe the feeling as a betrayal similar to marital infidelity (Photo: Gemini)

Miriam Wangari* had no reason to doubt John's love for her. He was the best provider any mother could ask for. He paid the bills on time and took the family on that occasional holiday. And since she quit her job at a leading Nairobi law firm to concentrate on raising their children, John had no problem providing her with some pocket money every month.

Then the document surfaced. A folded paper tucked inside John's jacket pocket screamed of a contract to a piece of land John was buying near Isinya, Kajiado. Wangari never knew about it and John had no intention of telling her. She responded to what she felt was betrayal by giving John the silent treatment.