Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, who previously shared publicly about having 5 wives, has spoken about his family structure and co-parenting arrangements.
Speaking in a radio interview on May 25, Senator Onyonka said he decided to take full responsibility for raising his children after family disagreements, stating that he now lives with and directly cares for them.
“So, I have decided to just pick up the kids and run with them. And my kids are happy, and they love me, and I love them,” he explained.
He said the children are happy and well provided for in his homes, and that they maintain contact with their mothers at different times.
Senator Onyonka Reveals Family Conflicts While Speaking on Co-Parenting
Onyonka added that the arrangement followed disagreements within the wider family structure, which made joint co-parenting difficult.
“If you see my homes, all those kids feed in those homes. They all visit their mothers every season, every group. It’s only the mothers who have disagreed completely, which is fine by me,” he said.
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The Kisii senator said he had tried to encourage a united family arrangement, stating that efforts to resolve disagreements had been overtaking his events, and that he proposed bringing the children together to live as a family.
Further, Senator Onyonka added that his proposal was rejected by the other parties involved, and he then decided to take full responsibility for the children and live with them.
Senator Richard Speaks on Polygamy, Family Structure, and Public Perception
The senator said his family situation is mainly about children rather than the number of wives, adding that polygamy should not be viewed in a simple or purely personal context. He described it as an arrangement that can develop over time or be deliberately entered into.
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“Polygamy is not a simple thing about A and B. It is not even sexual. Polygamy is an arrangement that either develops consciously or unconsciously when you are involved in it. You find yourself there, and you have to deal with it. Or it is sometimes a deliberate attempt,” he said.
He said his large family was influenced by his upbringing as an only child on both sides of his family, explaining that he decided to have more people around him.
Onyonka stated that some of his children are from marriages that did not work out, adding that in a different cultural setting, he would likely have divorced and remained single.
He also argued that perceptions of large families vary by religion and culture, noting that similar situations are viewed differently across communities.
The senator further stated that he fully supports his children without public fundraising and said he has never asked for financial assistance for their upkeep.
