Kenya president signs polygamy law

29 April 2014 Last updated at 15:16 Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed into law a controversial marriage bill legalising polygamy.

It brings civil law, where a man was only allowed one wife, into line with customary law, where some cultures allow multiple partners.

Controversy surrounded an amendment to the bill, supported by many male MPs, allowing men to take more wives without consulting existing spouses.

Traditionally, first wives are supposed to give prior approval.

'Demeaning' Continue reading the main story Bans marriage for those under 18All marriages - even customary unions - must be registeredLegalises polygamy, allowing men to marry as many partner as they wish without consulting other spousesA woman is entitled to 50% of property acquired during marriageSpecifies that marriage is between a man and a woman, but does not explicitly ban custom of an infertile woman marrying a younger womanProposals dropped: Banning bride price payments, recognising cohabiting, or "come-we-stay", relationshipsLast month, female MPs walked out of parliament in disgust after their male counterparts voted through the amendment.

They argued that a decision to take on another wife would affect the whole family, including the financial position of other spouses.

The bill was also opposed by Christian leaders who urged the president not to sign it into law, saying it undermined Christian principles of marriage and family.

"The tone of that bill, if it becomes law, would be demeaning to women since it does not respect the principle of equality of spouses in the institution of marriage," Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), was quoted by Kenya's Standard newspaper as saying.

The marriage legislation has been under discussion for several years and some initial proposals were scrapped at committee stages.

It has abolished the practice of unofficial traditional marriages which were never registered and could be ended without any legal divorce proceedings.

But plans to ban the payment of bride prices were dropped - although a person must be 18 to marry and this now applies to all cultures.

Inheritance chaos?

MPs did reject the committee amendment which said a woman should only be entitled to 30% of matrimonial property after death or divorce.

Kenyans now have to be 18 to marry and this applies to all cultures

The law now allows for equal property and inheritance rights - previously a woman had to prove her contribution to the couple's wealth.

However, the BBC's Frenny Jowi in the capital, Nairobi, says this aspect of the legislation could create chaos in polygamous marriages.

The law stipulates that a wife is entitled to an equal share of whatever the couple acquired during their marriage but in the case of multiple partners it is going to be difficult to determine what each spouse is entitled to if one of them divorces or their husband dies, she says.

There had also been a proposal to recognise co-habiting couples, known in Kenya as "come-we-stay" relationships, after six months, but this too was dropped.

It would have allowed a woman to seek maintenance for herself and any children of the union, had the man left.

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Tentative Signs of Spring

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Flower signs new England contract

Flower joined the England set-up as assistant coach in 2007 Andy Flower has signed a new contract to remain as England team director.

The former Zimbabwe captain, 43, took over from Peter Moores in January 2009 and has since overseen successive Ashes series victories over Australia.

"I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to build on the considerable progress we have made to date as a squad," he said.

Flower had been India's first choice as their new coach before they appointed Duncan Fletcher in April.

However, the approach soon faltered as the former Essex batsman was unwilling to consider uprooting his family.

England begin a four-Test series against India in July.

"We have made no secret of our determination to become the number one side in the world and challenge for global titles and I feel we have been making steady progress," added Flower.

Continue reading the main story

Now that Flower's continuing services have been secured, the ECB's next task is to determine whether Andrew Strauss wants to stay on as one-day captain

ALISON MITCHELL BLOG Read more

"I firmly believe we have the talent amongst the playing squad and management team to help us realise our ambitions."

Despite an underwhelming campaign in the recent Cricket World Cup, Flower has built a formidable reputation during his spell with England.

In addition to Test series victories over Australia, he guided England to their first major tournament win at the World Twenty20 in May 2010.

During his tenure England have risen from sixth place in the International Cricket Council's Test rankings to third behind India and South Africa.

In contrast to the fractious relationship between then-captain Kevin Pietersen and his predecessor Moores, Flower has led a united dressing room.

Since taking the job on a permanent basis in April 2009, after an initial period as interim coach, he has forged a close and successful partnership with Test captain Andrew Strauss.

Flower also won admiration for the manner in which he managed skin cancer - having a melanoma removed from his right cheek during the during the second day of the opening Ashes Test in November.

"Andy's outstanding leadership, commitment, and his open and honest approach have been key factors in the success the England squad has enjoyed over the last two years," said England Cricket managing director Hugh Morris.

Although there is no specific clause in Flower's new contract giving him more control over the team's future schedule, he will meet with Morris and his support staff in the next few weeks to discuss players' workloads.

Flower blamed injuries in the run-up to February Cricket World Cup on the length of the Ashes tour that preceded it prompting fears he could walk away from his post.

England played their first tour match against Western Australia on 5 November and completed the trip with their seventh one-day international on 6 February.

Flower is keen to ensure England do not endure a similarly congested fixture schedule again, ensuring he has sufficient recovery time from intensive Test, one-day and Twenty20 series.

"The volume of cricket played is tough for anybody," said former England fast bowler Angus Fraser told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Andrew Strauss has a huge workload, players are rested so why shouldn't coaches?

"It is difficult for coaches to be fresh to maintain their enthusiasm over a period of time."

Simple checklist may spot signs of autism by age 1

WASHINGTON — A simple checklist that parents fill out in the waiting room may help doctors someday screen for warning signs of autism as early as a baby's first birthday.

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San Diego pediatricians tested the tool with more than 10,000 babies at their 1-year checkups, looking for such things as how the tots babble, gesture and interact with others.

The research, being published Thursday, is a first step in the quest for earlier autism screening. It's not ready for routine use, as more work is needed to verify its accuracy. But it also may prove valuable in finding more at-risk babies to study what causes the developmental disorder.

"There are subtle signs of autism at one year if you just look for them," said neuroscientist Karen Pierce of the University of California, San Diego, who led the study. "Let's just get these kids detected early and treated early."

Recent data suggest about 1 in 100 U.S. children has some form of autism, which ranges from mild to severe problems with behavior, communication and socialization. The American Academy of Pediatrics already urges autism screening during regular doctor visits at ages 18 months and 24 months. Yet a 2009 study found that on average, children aren't diagnosed until they're 5.

Experts say early therapy can lessen autism's severity, even if they don't know exactly what types will prove best. "The earlier you start, the better," said Dr. Lisa Gilotty of the National Institute of Mental Health, which helped fund the study.

Hence the interest in younger screening.

One mother's story of saving her family from the chaos of autism

"This is very exciting work, to think we may be able to identify children with autism this early," said Dr. Susan Hyman of the University of Rochester and a pediatrics academy autism specialist, who wasn't involved in the new study.

But, she cautioned, it's not clear how best to do that: "I don't think screening for autism at 12 months is ready for prime time."

Thursday's study uses a 24-question checklist written in easy-to-understand terms that parents can answer in about five minutes. It was developed a few years ago to detect broader signs of language or developmental delays. Pierce signed up 137 pediatricians to use the questionnaire during every 1-year checkup and refer babies who failed for further testing. Those youngsters were re-evaluated every six months to age 3, when a diagnosis could be certain.

No evidence that most autism treatments work

Of 10,479 babies screened, 184 who were sent for further testing followed through — and 32 eventually were diagnosed with autism, Pierce reported Thursday in the Journal of Pediatrics.

That's consistent with expected rates of detection that young; Rochester's Hyman said some forms of autism don't become apparent until age 2 or even later.

Numerous other children were diagnosed with language delay or some other developmental problems, so that in the end, the screening accurately predicted some problem in 75 percent of those kids, Pierce calculated. But there were false alarms for 1 in 4, who had no problems.

The children began treatment at around 19 months. In addition, Pierce's program does MRI scans and other tests as part of broader research into autism's biological underpinnings, studies now limited by the few numbers of babies being identified as at risk when they're so young.

One big puzzle: Only a fraction of the total 1,318 babies who failed the initial screening were referred for follow-up. The study couldn't tell how much of that gap was recording error, or if doctors or parents weren't worried enough to follow up right away, or if families went elsewhere.

Still, the study shows early screening is feasible in the hectic everyday offices of regular pediatricians. That's important as scientists now develop various screening tests, said Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of Autism Speaks, which co-funded the work.

Pierce says other cities should consider the screening — but doctors first must know where to send families for follow-up testing. That can cost several thousand dollars, and state programs for free evaluation of at-risk children may have waiting lists.

For now, what should worry parents? Pierce's top concerns:

Lack of what she calls "shared attention." Around age 1, babies should try to "pull your attention into their world," pointing to a bird and watching to see if you look, for example, or bringing you a toy, she said.Lack of shared enjoyment, where a baby may smile at mom but not engage if other people try peek-a-boo.Repetitive behaviors like spinning a car wheel rather than playing with the toy.

Language delays are worrisome if they accompany other problem signs, she said: "If they wave and they point, that's a good sign the brain is readying itself to be ready to speak."

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

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