An AI illustration of a polygamous marriageMore than half of the women in Nairobi are open to exploring polygamous marriage, a report has revealed.
A report by Mwelekeo Insights titled Attitudes toward marriage among women aged 30 and below residing in Nairobi showed that 51 per cent of respondents are willing to enter into polygamous marriages.
This, they said, they are willing to enter polygamous marriage, provided it would economically transform their lives.
From the report, only 29 per cent of respondents considered marriage an essential life goal, while 53 per cent stated it was not a priority, and 18 per cent were unsure.
Top reasons for deprioritising marriages are career ambitions 31 per cent, financial independence 52 per cent and personal freedom 17 per cent.
According to the report, highly educated and employed women were more likely to deprioritise marriage, 67 per cent compared to those with lower education levels, 33 per cent.
Social expectations remained a strong influence, particularly among respondents from conservative backgrounds.
50 per cent of participants reported feeling some degree of societal pressure to marry, though 50 per cent expressed a declining influence of traditional expectations.
Among women in Nairobi considering marriage, 30 per cent preferred an age between 28 and 30, while 45 per cent felt comfortable marrying beyond 30.
The report said that 80 per cent of women in Nairobi prioritised financial stability and career growth over marriage, indicating a shift in personal aspirations.
According to the report, 56 per cent of women in Nairobi acknowledged that their views on marriage had evolved, with 31 per cent reporting a more negative perception and 13 per cent a positive shift.
The report stated that 59 per cent of women in Nairobi believed marriage was not necessary for a fulfilling life, with many citing personal achievements and fulfilling factors.
Urban women were more likely to deprioritise marriage at 62 per cent compared to rural women at 38 per cent.
"The findings of the poll suggested a significant shift in attitude toward marriage among women aged 30 and below in Nairobi. While marriage remains a culturally significant institution, evolving aspirations related to career growth, financial independence, and personal freedom are reshaping traditional perspectives," the report read in part.
"These insights can serve as a foundation for further studies on changing societal norms and their broader implications on relationships and family structures."
The geographic scope of the poll was Nairobi, with 2,687 sample size the data was collected through a mixture of online and in-person interviews.
The interviews were conducted on women aged 18 to 30 from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds residing in the city.
The margin of error was +/- 3 per cent at a 95 per cent confidence level.
