Meet ‘King Solomon’ of Kakamega with eight wives and seven mistresses.

Surprisingly,he says he is too smart for one wife. And so, David Zakayo Kalukhana a man from Teresia Village on the edge of Kakamega County, has eight wives and seven concubines with whom he has sired 107 children.The 63-year-old, whose village lies along the expansive Nandi escarpment in Kakamega North sub-county, first got married in 1987 but he felt he needed more.

“A head like mine cannot be managed by one woman. It is like a big sack of maize which has to be divided into smaller parts for ease of movement. I need many wives so that they can manage the amount of brains and ideas in my head. I am too smart for one wife,” Mr Kalukhana said.

Going by the local standards, Mr Kalukhana is not a wealthy man,in his compound are three semi-permanent houses with iron sheet roofs with mud walls and he owns a half-acre parcel of land on which he grows some maize along with sugarcane farming for the purpose of providing for his large family,aldo he does menial jobs including landscaping activities.

Despite the struggle he goes through to fend for his kin, Mr Kalukhana stands tall, likening himself to the biblical King Solomon who had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

“I have wives in different places, including in the neighbouring Nandi County,” said Mr Kalukhana.

…And every month, Mr Kalukhana has to buy five bags of maize, which is distributed to his wives to ensure the children do not sleep hungry.
“When I’m not farming, I go out to do menial work, including constructing stone fences around people’s homes. The work is well-paying and it has helped me make some money to keep my family going. They will never sleep hungry as long as I’m alive,” said Mr Kalukhana.

However, the polygamist says nothing stops him from marrying more young wives to be part of his family.But there are unmissable signs of a man living in dire straits even as he stirs excitement in his neighbourhood. He wore plastic shoes and his wives were in rubber sandals as they marched in a line from the first wife’s house, with some carrying young babies in their arms.

One could easily mistake his family with a community meeting or a chief’s baraza since the wives and children interacts with each other freely.
On the other hand, Ms Asembo says, she has never felt jealous of the other wives.

“I love my husband and that is all that matters. Even if he brings in additional wives, I will not be bothered because I understand him. He is a responsible man and whatever he does is always right because he takes his time to decide on what to do,” said Ms Asembo.

…And Ms Dorine Kalukhana, the seventh wife, said she used to be jealous when she was newly married but later got used to it.

“Today, there is no jealousy. We all live in harmony and no woman feels jealous of the other. Our man treats us equally,” she said.

Finally,Ms Ashley Nechesa another wife, said their husband is responsible and has always done his best to make his wives and children happy. Praising his bedroom skills, she said he is also responsible.

“Nimezaa naye watoto. Anawatunza, anawapeleka shuleni (We have sired children and he takes good care of everyone and educates them),” said Ms Nechesa.

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.