Judiciary Warns Citizens Against Rising Cases Of Bigamy.
Judiciary has issued a stern warning to citizens against rising cases of bigamy in the covid year.
The cases of married couples breaking the law by marrying other lovers have shot up according to the new report from the judiciary.
The annual report from the State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice which was released on Thursday last week indicates that bigamy shot by three digits. This is an indicator that men and women are now openly binding themselves to lovers despite it being illegal.
The data revealed the crime rose by 226 per cent between July 2020 and July 2021.
According to the three hundred-page documents from the state of judiciary and administration of justice, a total of 31 bigamy cases were reported in the financial year 2019/2021. Notably, the number has increased to 101 cases in the 2020/2021 financial year after an additional 70 more cases.
The of Kenya considers marriage as a sacred union to which none is expected to go against the vows taken between the two parties.
Due to its sanctity, any couple who violets the marriage vows to go against the law which stipulates offences and penalties relating to marriage ceremonies.
The law of Kenya prohibits married couples from marrying another partner if they have not divorced their current spouse.
The same law further indicates that a family is made up of its nuclear members.
The law of Kenya impresses on monogamy and therefore, it is an offence for any married person to undergo a marriage ceremony while the current one still exists.
The law further states that anyone who violates the marriage law and practices bigamy is equal to a penalty of imprisonment for a maximum period of five years.
At the same time, the Marriage Act outlines if a person makes, declares or certifies or states any false information over a marriage ceremony is guilty of an offence.
On sexual offences, the report indicated that defilement and rape cases also increased from the previous year.
Defilement cases increase from 6305 to 7464 while rape cases increased from 972 to 1,004 cases.
Why do you think bigamy is on a rising trend in the country? Share your opinion.
