Several politicians in Kenya have had their marriages annulled because of politics thus raising questions whether it is difficult to balance marriage and politics.
Most of those who have been affected by such situations are female politicians whose husbands felt they could not be handled because of politics.
Below is a list of politicians whose political decisions cost their marriages.
Roselinda Simiyu
Roselinda is the second wife of COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli. She recently caused a stir on social media after declaring that she was a member of UDA, a political party affiliated to DP William Ruto, during a campaign tour in Bungoma.
It is alleged that the trouble in her marriage started in 2016 when she declared her interest in politics. Atwoli did not agree with that and in 2017 he announced that he had released her because she did not listen to him.
The COTU boss confirmed that she is no longer his relative following her move to join UDA last month.
“Roselinda was surrendered to William Ruto in 2007 in his Eldoret town house. She is no longer on the list of my relatives,” read Atwoli’s tweet.
Aisha Jumwa
The Malindi MP has been married twice, and both her marriages ended because of political reasons.
Her first marriage ended in 1997 because her husband was not going to have a politician wife in the house.
“I joined politics in 1997 when I vied for a councilor’s seat. My husband gave me an ultimatum to either choose to be his wife or be a politician. I chose politics because I realized I had a bright future ahead,” the MP stated.
While serving as a councilor of Takaunga, she met a fellow councilor, Karisa Nzai of Mombasa municipality, and got married in the 2000s. They were blessed with 2 children and she had one child from her previous marriage. Their relationship however went sour when Aisha was elected as the Woman Rep of Kilifi and Nzai as the MCA of Jomvu ward.
Martha Wangari
The Gilgil MP filed a divorce case against Peter Karanja, her husband of 5 years, accusing him of domestic abuse, infidelity, lack of support and death threats.
On the other hand, Karanja claimed that Wangari had changed a lot after joining politics and used her political status to kick him out of their home.
Agnes Kavindu
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She is the sitting senator of Machakos and ex-wife to former Machakos senator Johnson Muthama. The two got married in 1975 and divorced in 1983 before remarrying in 1995.
Things however did not work out for them and Muthama was angered by Kavindu who sided with his political enemy Kalonzo Musyoka. This made him kick her out of his home 18 years after remarrying.
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