Pastor Habil Were has sparked a heated conversation online after revealing that he married another woman while his first wife, Jennifer, was bedridden with stage 4 breast cancer.
Were opened up in a Facebook post about the difficult period in his life, saying caring for his ailing wife while battling his own health challenges had been emotionally and physically demanding.
He said Jennifer was bedridden and that he had been afraid to seek treatment for his prostate because he worried about who would care for her in his absence.
The preacher, however, said his life took another turn when he met a woman who, according to him, loved and supported Jennifer during her illness.
He identified his new wife as Mary Habil and said she had remained by his side even when he was sick and using catheters for eight months.
The revelation has since divided opinion, with some Kenyans questioning the timing of the marriage while others defended Were’s decision and his explanation of polygamous marriage.
Meeting New Woman
Were said he met the woman who would later become part of his marriage a year before Jennifer’s death.
According to the preacher, the woman had a relationship with Jennifer and became a source of comfort during the difficult period.
He also claimed that his mother-in-law encouraged Jennifer to share him with the other woman.
Were did not shy away from the controversy surrounding his marital arrangement, describing himself as a polygynous husband who could still defend the Gospel.
Pastor Defends Polygamous Marriage
He argued that marriage was not a qualification for preaching the Gospel, and that he believed in an open approach to relationships.
“I believe in love with openness,” he stated in his post, indicating that hiding a new wife was neither scriptural nor healthy for her.
The preacher also spoke about the role his three children, Alice, Yehoshua and Israel, played after Jennifer’s death.
They attended their stepmother’s funeral; their presence was not only encouraging but also represented their mother, who was absent from the occasion for reasons he did not know.
He further disclosed that he was still waiting for Florence Kananu, whom he referred to as his second wife, to return and share him with Mary.
Kenyans Question Were’s Timing
The circumstances have nevertheless raised questions about whether it was appropriate for a man to enter another marriage while his first wife was battling a terminal illness.
For some social media users, Jennifer’s condition made the decision particularly difficult to understand, with the timing becoming the most contentious part of Were’s story.
Others, however, argued that the situation could not be judged without knowing the private conversations that took place between the couple and their families.
Some noted that Were’s account suggests Jennifer and her family were aware of the relationship and that his mother-in-law had encouraged the arrangement.
