When a Church Leader Quits the Marriage.
Recently, gospel singer and preacher Linet Munyali, alias Size 8, broke the internet by announcing the end of her 11-year marriage to DJ Mo. She took to Instagram with an emotional post, stating she has now begun the next chapter of her life as a single woman.
“Sometimes marriage works by God’s grace, and sometimes it does not. But all in all, God is still on the throne. I’ve been married for 11 years, and now I start the journey of singlehood,” she wrote, expressing faith that God remains in control of her life.
Size 8 did not delve into the specifics of why the celebrated gospel couple decided to part ways. This announcement follows a history of public controversies, including a scandal in 2020 when a woman alleged intimate relations with DJ Mo, sharing explicit evidence through blogger Edgar Obare. Despite this, Size 8 and DJ Mo appeared together in a live prayer session, claiming to have seen the goodness of the Lord in their marriage.
When she announced their separation, reactions were mixed. Some saw it as a publicity stunt, while others believed it was genuine. Critics noted that as a well-known preacher, Size 8’s decision to divorce was surprising, given societal expectations for religious leaders to uphold the sanctity of marriage.
An X user, Shamz Wanja, commented, “These people of God tell others to be patient and pray for their marriages, even when things are getting worse. They quote the Bible to force people to remain in marriages that damage one’s sanity and well-being. But when it knocks on their door, it is different. They walk out without looking back.”
Another user, Achieng Christine, applauded Size 8’s decision: “I applaud Size 8 for taking that bold step to walk out of a marriage that is not working and starting a singlehood life. It ain’t easy as a mother, but mostly, as a woman of God who has a church to preach to. We know tens of women like her who suffer in silence, hide their wounds in tonnes of makeup as they continue to live under the same roof with their abuser. Someone’s relationship with God is not a reason enough for them to tolerate abuse and torture in the name of keeping a marriage as a church leader.”
Marriage and relationship coach Mike Ndambiri highlighted the pressure on women in religious roles to protect the image of their unions and avoid divorce. “Society expects religious leaders, especially female ones, to tolerate and pray. Speaking about domestic violence meted to them by their spouse will taint the name of the church. So, what do they do? They condone the abuse and torture, just to be seen as married,” he says.
Ndambiri further explains that some Bible verses are misused to compel people, including religious leaders, to stay in challenging marriages. “The Bible says God hates divorce unless under certain circumstances. These circumstances are not highlighted when divorce is being discussed. The Bible should be quoted entirely to make people understand why divorce is an alternative,” he notes.
He adds, “Society judges divorced women harshly. No matter what caused the separation, they end up on the receiving end. Some women would rather stay in their marriage for fear of being judged.”
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.
