The cleric made the remarks during a funeral service in an undated video that has since gone viral on social media platforms.A Catholic priest’s remarks advising men to marry another wife if the first spouse is not supportive have ignited heated debate online, drawing both praise and criticism from Kenyans over his views on marriage, wealth and family responsibilities.
The cleric made the remarks during a funeral service in Western Kenya in an undated video that has since gone viral on social media.
In his sermon, the priest argued that wives were created to support their husbands and help build family wealth, insisting that some marriages fail because women do not contribute positively to their homes.
“I always advise the men, if your wife does not help you build wealth and does not even maintain the wealth you already have, you get another one,” he said, prompting loud murmurs from mourners, with some appearing to endorse the statement.
“Makofi kwa Father,” one voice from the crowd shouted.
The priest went on to link what he described as growing stress among men to a lack of support within families.
“Men are dying quickly from stress because they lack backup. Even from history in the Bible, a woman was a helper so you should assist your man to create wealth, don't just be destroying what he has built,” he said.
“Be there to create, to add on what your man is doing.”
He further claimed that in many homes, nearly every possession belongs to the husband because some wives allegedly contribute little financially or economically to the family.
The remarks quickly triggered intense reactions online, with social media users sharply divided over whether the comments reflected uncomfortable truths about marriage or crossed the line into controversial teaching.
Supporters of the priest defended the sermon as practical advice on partnership, responsibility and financial discipline in marriage.
“So nowadays the truth is what we call controversial?” one user wrote.
Another added: “When women advise each other to leave men who don't help them, it's empowerment. When men do it, it's controversial.”
Others said the priest’s message was less about polygamy and more about encouraging spouses to contribute meaningfully to family growth.
“In other words he's telling men to be very careful and make right choices when it comes to marriage and also he's challenging the ladies to be productive in their marriage and not misuse whatever wealth is in the family,” another commenter wrote, adding: “Very good advice.”
Some users openly agreed with the priest’s sentiments, with one saying: “Very true. Keep only women who help you to build. Not those who only consume like children.”
Others, however, faulted the cleric for remarks they said contradicted church doctrine and promoted unhealthy views of marriage.
“This is not church teaching,” one commenter wrote. Another questioned why some religious leaders introduce personal opinions into sermons and present them as spiritual guidance.
“I find it interesting how some men of cloth come up with their own doctrines and then peddle them as some sort of facts of life,” the user wrote.
The comments also attracted humour and sarcasm, with some joking that the priest should become “Lifetime Chaplain of the Mens Conference,” while others questioned his authority to advise married couples given Catholic priests do not marry.
“A man who doesn't have a wife is lecturing married people about marriage,” one user remarked.
Under Catholic teaching, marriage is regarded as a lifelong and exclusive covenant between one man and one woman, with the Church traditionally opposing polygamy.
That position appeared to inform part of the backlash from critics who viewed the priest’s comments as inconsistent with established doctrine despite support from some quarters online.
The video adds to a growing trend of relationship advice clips that have ignited debate on social media, particularly when touching on gender roles, marriage expectations and financial responsibility within families.
