Stop Early Marriages, Kwale CEC Member Warns

With reports showing that an estimated 23% of girls in Kenya get married before reaching the age of 18, efforts have been put up to protect the basic rights of the girl child. In Kwale County various stakeholders have come together in a bid to ensure that cases of early child marriages and early pregnancies are eradicated, and at the same time ensure that school drop out rates among the girls are decreased. Such cases are reportedly rampant in the rural areas where some families see the girl child as either a burden or at times a source of wealth. Many rural communities try to justify these malpractices by use of cultural or religious arguments. 

Kwale CEC Member for Education Mangale Chiforomodo at Naserian village. / Photo: Susan Nyamawi.

In a recent Lunga Lunga Sub County Education Stakeholders Forum held at Naserian village in Mwereni ward, officials from the County Government of Kwale their counterparts from the National Government and officers from various Non Governmental Organizations including Kwale Welfare and Education Association, Muslims For Human Rights (MUHURI) and Haki Yetu emphasized on the importance of education especially to the girl child in the society.

Addressing community members who attended this forum, Kwale County Executive Committee Member for Education Mangale Munga Chiforomodo asked the residents of Naserian village and Mwereni ward to take their children to school.

“It is unfortunate that Mwereni ward and particularly Naserian village has for long been listed as the area with the highest cases of early child marriages and early pregnancies.” He said.

Chiforomodo reiterated that education is a basic right to all children in Kenya, and that the County Government of Kwale will ensure every child in the County goes to school. He also cautioned that parents who force their girls to get married at an early aged will be held responsible for such offences.

“I urge all parents and the community at large to take responsibility and report the culprits who are behind the cases of early pregnancies or early child marriages which hinder our girls education.” He added.

At the same time the CEC member challenged responsible officials from both the county and national governments to take stern legal action against those interfering with girl child education. 

Naserian villagers following speeches at the sensitization forum. / Photo: Susan Nyamawi.

On his part, Lunga Lunga Sub County Director of Education Mr Roba explained that some parents use transfers to hide cases of child marriages or pregnancies. He however called upon school heads to regulate transfers of students as a way to eradicate those cases.

“Any parent who wants a transfer for his child should contact my office. Parents should also give equal rights to education to all their children regardless of their gender. Those who do not want to take their children to school will face the law.” He explained.

Mr Roba also reminded stakeholders present at the forum that the Basic Education Act should be adhered to.

Speaking at the same venue Lunga Lunga OCS Mr Richard Kerario challenged parents to report all cases of early pregnancies rather than solving them at community levels. “As police we take child offences seriously and we shall punish everyone found guilty of doing such offenses.” He warned.

Kwale Welfare and Education Association (KWEA) Chief Executive Officer Ms Sabina Saiti reminded Naserian villagers that educating the girl child is empowering the community. “All children have equal rights to education.” She added.

Ms Rehema Mwangeka from Naserian village in Mwereni ward Lunga Lunga. Photo: Susan Nyamawi.

On her part, Ms Rehema Mwangeka who is a volunteer girl child rights activist from Naserian village saidi that many mother want their daughters to learn but fathers tend to be the challenge or obstacle.

"Husband are the decision makers in our families and sometimes mothers are afraid to go against any of their decisions of marrying their daughters to the people they choose for them." She said.

However Ms Rehema urged the stakeholders present at the forum to invest more on sensitization campaigns in rural areas saying that in the recent past there has been a positive change.