A senior Kenyan government official has called for the series “The Polygamist” to be banned in Kenya and has even suggested possible legal action against Netflix, claiming the show is negatively influencing marriages and family life.
According to Kenyan outlet “Mpasho”, Nairobi county chief officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, said, “This movie has destroyed people’s marriages. It should be banned because it is spoiling families and the minds of people.”
He further added, “A wife sees her husband with a female friend and immediately starts thinking he will become a polygamist. Women are enjoying it, but it is spoiling marriages and giving them wrong ideas.”
“I am not against polygamy because I have seen people who were born in polygamous families, and I am also a product of a polygamous family,” he said.
He added that although he is personally married to one wife, he believes polygamy is not inherently wrong.
“The movie is exaggerating. It is making it look bad. It is making it look like anybody who is a polygamist is a womaniser and an animal, but polygamy is not bad,” he said
The Polygamist is so controversial, Kenya wants to sue Netflix. pic.twitter.com/Cu285PXc8P
— Algorithm Teacher (@AlgoTeacher) June 24, 2026
He said he is the 21st of 22 children, noting that the family was previously believed to have 21 siblings until his father later revealed there are 22 in total, adding that having a large family is a positive thing.
Since premiering on Friday, 12 June, “The Polygamist” has become one of the most talked-about series globally. The 22-episode drama, based on Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi’s novel, has drawn viewers from across the world.
Early streaming figures reportedly place it among Netflix’s strongest international releases of the year, particularly across Africa, where audiences have engaged heavily with its themes of love, betrayal and family tension.
Geoffrey Mosiria calls for ban on The Polygamist, says Netflix should be sued for spoiling marriages in Kenya.#SpiceDrive
Host: #CeoCharles
Co-host: #ThaRealSolo
Producer: @EdwinMasaku pic.twitter.com/k2DrJ8GUez— SpiceFM (@SpiceFMKE) June 24, 2026
While many viewers have praised its storytelling, layered characters and standout performances from the entire cast, others argue the series is doing more harm than good.
On Wednesday, Kenyan radio station Spice FM shared a video clip of Drive Time hosts CEO Charles and Tha Real Solo discussing Mosiria’s remarks.
Tha Real Solo dismissed the criticism, saying: “When it comes to issues regarding social matters and what we are watching and what is breaking homes, he doesn’t have a role to play. I think he just said it for clickbait. I don’t think there’s so much that can be done. It’s on Netflix, it cannot be controlled.”
As debate continues, “The Polygamist” remains at the centre of divided opinion, with viewers split between praising its storytelling and questioning its wider social impact.
