By Amoto Ndiewo
Womankind Kenya, an NGO in North-eastern is demanding for action to be taken against a man who married a 13 year old girl in Syombo, Tana River County.
Speaking to Education News in Madogo Township, the NGO’s Children Rights’ Coordinator Hassan Ismail said it was unfortunate the 36 -year-old man married off the girl who attended Syombo Primary School.
“It was unfortunate the man is still running scot free, one month after he eloped with the girl,’’ lamented Ismail.
Ismail said such cases discourage girls from school as he called on the government to step in and stop such forced marriages.
The mother to the girl clarified that through the efforts of teachers; the girl was rescued and taken to Umulkheir Rescue Centre. She revealed that her daughter was playing with friends after school when the man grabbed and forcibly took her to make her a wife. She admitted such cases were rampant in the county.
“We are still pursuing another case of a form one girl who was made pregnant and no action was taken against the victim despite the case being reported to the authorities,’’ lamented Ismail.
He said Womankind Kenya would embark on an awareness campaign in the region to sensitize parents against the vice of child marriages. He admitted that while such practices were a norm in the past, in the modern world they have no time and space.
Womankind Kenya which sponsors Umulhkeir Rescue Centre hosts girls who fallen victim to the cruel FGM, child marriage and other abuses met by the girl child.
“Besides the girl child, Womankind Kenya cover for the general empowerment of the female in the society,’’ said Ismail.
The Madogo Education Officer Komora Dhado Karisse called on parents and members of the public to come forth with information, adding that, cases were common place but public participation by giving reports of the rampant cases of child marriages was wanting.
