Asha Mirriam
A television show does not destroy marriages. People do.
Yet Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement Geoffrey Mosiria has called for the popular Netflix series The Polygamist to be banned in Kenya, arguing that it is harming marriages, poisoning minds, and undermining family values. He has even suggested legal action against Netflix, claiming that the show’s portrayal of infidelity and dysfunctional relationships is having a negative influence on society.
His comments have divided public opinion. Some agree that television and social media can influence behaviour and that governments have a responsibility to protect family values. Those concerns should not be dismissed outright.
However, blaming The Polygamist for society’s problems gives too much power to fiction and too little attention to reality.
In fact, I believe more shows like The Polygamist should be made.
Why? Because the series forces us to confront conversations that many societies refuse to have openly.
For years, communities across Africa have debated polygamy either as a cultural practice or a religious institution. Yet far less attention is given to the emotional realities that often accompany it. What happens to children who feel neglected? What happens when wives compete for affection and resources? What happens when family conflict turns into emotional abuse or domestic violence? What are the mental health consequences for people trapped in unstable households?
These are not comfortable questions, but they are real ones.
One of the most striking reactions to The Polygamist has been the number of viewers who say they saw themselves in the story. Others saw their parents. Some recognized the tensions that shaped their childhoods. Many were not watching fiction; they were watching versions of their own lives unfold on screen.
That is precisely why the series resonates with so many people.
The show is not creating these problems. It is exposing them.
Art has always served as a mirror to society. The most important stories are often the ones that make us uncomfortable because they reveal truths we would rather ignore. When a television drama sparks widespread discussion about family conflict, emotional neglect, domestic violence, and mental health, that is not evidence of failure. It is evidence that the story has touched something real.
Ironically, Mosiria could use the series as a teaching tool rather than treating it as a threat. Instead of calling for censorship, leaders could encourage discussions about healthy relationships, responsible parenting, and the long-term effects of family conflict on children. The show presents an opportunity to reflect on what strengthens families and what tears them apart.
Banning The Polygamist would not eliminate the issues it portrays. It would not stop infidelity. It would not end domestic violence. It would not heal childhood trauma. It would simply silence one of the conversations bringing these problems into the open.
The real question is not whether The Polygamist should be banned.
The real question is why a fictional television series is saying things about our society that many of us are still afraid to say ourselves.
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Asha Mirriam is a creative writer passionate about African story telling, social justice and emotionally rich narratives
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