A Kenyan pastor has sparked a heated debate online after publicly revealing that he married another woman while his first wife, Jennifer, was battling stage 4 breast cancer.
Pastor Habil Were opened up about the deeply personal chapter of his life in a Facebook post, recounting the emotional and physical challenges he faced while caring for his ailing wife and dealing with his own health problems.
According to Were, Jennifer had become bedridden as her illness progressed. At the same time, he was experiencing his own medical difficulties, including problems with his prostate.
The preacher said his situation became so overwhelming that he was initially afraid to seek medical treatment because he worried about who would take care of Jennifer if he was admitted to hospital or became too weak to look after her.
It was during this difficult period, Were said, that he met the woman who would later become his wife.
He identified her as Mary Habil and claimed that she did not only support him but also developed a relationship with Jennifer and became a source of comfort during her illness.
Were said Mary stood by him through his own health struggles, including a period when he was reportedly using catheters for eight months.
The preacher disclosed that he met Mary about a year before Jennifer’s death, a revelation that has become one of the most controversial aspects of his account.
He also claimed that his mother-in-law encouraged Jennifer to share him with another woman, adding another layer to the already complex circumstances surrounding the marriage.
Pastor Explains His Position on Polygamy
Were did not shy away from the controversy surrounding his marital arrangement.
He described himself as a polygynous husband and maintained that being married should not determine whether someone can preach the Gospel.
The pastor said he believes in openness in relationships and argued that hiding a new wife would neither be healthy nor consistent with his understanding of marriage.
“I believe in love with openness,” he stated in his post.
His comments have since generated strong reactions on social media, with Kenyans expressing sharply different views about his decision.
Some questioned the timing of the marriage, particularly because Jennifer was reportedly battling an advanced stage of cancer and was bedridden at the time.
Others defended Were’s explanation and focused on his account that Mary had supported both him and Jennifer during a particularly difficult period.
Children’s Role After Jennifer’s Death
Were also spoke about his three children — Alice, Yehoshua and Israel — and their role following Jennifer’s death.
He said the children attended their stepmother’s funeral, describing their presence as an encouragement and saying they represented their mother, who was absent from the occasion for reasons he did not explain.
The pastor 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.
His revelations have consequently opened a wider conversation about polygamy, marriage, caregiving and the boundaries of relationships during periods of serious illness.
For some social-media users, the central issue is not simply Were’s belief in polygamy but the circumstances and timing in which the relationship with Mary reportedly developed.
Others have focused on Were’s claim that Mary supported Jennifer during her illness, viewing that part of the story as important context.
As debate continues, Were’s account has placed his private family history in the public spotlight, prompting Kenyans to reflect on the complicated choices people sometimes face when illness, marriage, faith and personal struggles collide.
