In today's episode, we discuss the legality of suing your spouse while you are married.

I am a wedding, and events planner and I’m married. My husband decided to take a second wife, and I was the wedding vendor. That’s the short version.

I got married traditionally, and my husband decided to take another wife. He told me if I was to accept the second wife he’ll give me the job to plan the wedding and I’ll pocket 500,000Kshs which was my fees. I took the job as a favour to my husband and my pocket. My husband knows how good I am at what I do. I plan and manage weddings successfully.

When I took this job, I trusted that he would make good on his promise. My husband paid a deposit and asked to pay the rest in instalments since they were raising money through a wedding committee. I accepted, and I handled everything except for food and transport and I included cake in my package. Their bill for everything for their big day amounted to 847,600/- tax inclusive. They have paid me a total of 500k.

The bride has since had her wedding and by the morning of the wedding; she told me that the committee couldn’t raise enough money. She has pushed, but she is frustrated since she lost her job 3 months to the wedding and they have depleted their savings as a couple. I did this as a favour to my husband and he has been using his new wife to communicate to me. It's been 6 months since the wedding and no communication from their end. I have bills to pay since there is a new wife and I need my money since I delivered on the job. How can I pursue her legally? My letters to them are not being acknowledged, neither am I getting a response.

Research by Maurine Kerich (maurine@swalanyeti.org)