Abstract:

Marriage is a fundamental social institution that shapes family organization, cultural identity, and social order within human societies. Among the Nandi community, polygamous marriage has traditionally served important social, economic, and lineage functions that sustain communal cohesion. However, the introduction of Christianity created tensions with these indigenous practices, resulting in the discreet continuation of polygamy or the selective integration of Christian teachings with traditional values, thereby producing a dual value system. This study investigated the impact of Christian teachings on traditional polygamous marriage practices of the Nandi community. It was guided by Diffusion Theory, Structural-Functionalist Theory, and Acculturation Theory, and employed a descriptive research design. The target population comprised of 1,000 participants, from which a sample size of 286 respondents was determined using Glenn’s (1992) tabulation. Data were collected through questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions, and analyzed thematically using the Likert scale approach and narration. The study found that while strong majorities affirm the relational and spiritual dimensions of Christian marriage (58.0%-73.3%), Christianity is simultaneously driving significant transformations in Nandi polygamous practices (61.8%-93.9%), even as church reconciliation strategies remain mixed and contested, with support and opposition often closely divided (45.0%-63.4%). It concluded that Christian marriage teachings have reshaped marriage in the Nandi community, but ongoing tensions reveal a complex negotiation between Christian ideals and traditional cultural norms. And the study recommended that churches in the region strengthen culturally sensitive and theologically grounded interventions to support a balanced reconciliation between Christian marriage ideals and Nandi cultural traditions.