Man on the run after impregnating school girl

Police officers in Kajiado are yet to arrest a 45-year-old man who forcibly married a 16-year-old schoolgirl and impregnated her.

At the same time, the Kajiado County Commissioner Felix Watakila has summoned a Chief suspected to have participated in marrying off the minor.

Speaking to The Nairobian, he said the suspect is still at large and will be arrested soon and arraigned in a court of law.

Waitikila also said if the suspected Chief is found guilty of the offense, he will be interdicted and taken to court to answer the charges the said she had attempted twice to run away from the man, but anytime she sneak, the suspected chief would bring her back home.

"We are suspecting that he might have crossed the border to our neighbour country Tanzania, however, he might run but we will get him soonest,'' he said.

"I am sending a warning to all chiefs and their assistants that anyone who will be involved in this retrogressive culture of early marriages and girl circumcision will not be spared," added Waitikila.

He further said that female genital mutilation and early marriages still remain a big challenge for girls in the county.

Watakila directed chiefs to fight FGM and early marriage in their areas of jurisdiction warning that if they fail to do so they will be fired ''All chiefs must be aware of events in their areas '' he added.

"It's our obligation as the administration to fight and champion children's rights, we cannot be the ones breaking the law and we go scot-free'' Watalika said.

He warned against using kangaroo courts in solving early marriages and FGM cases.

The girl in secondary school before she was married off to the old man who later impregnated her. She now has a month-old baby.

Narrating her ordeal outside the County commissioner's office in Kajiado town, the girl said she had attempted twice to run away from the man, but anytime she sneaked out the suspected chief would bring her back home.

''I'm very bitter with this area chief who has been bringing me back any time I attempt to run away from this man," she said.