Bridegroom among three charged in Garissa over early marriage

Garissa, Kenya: Three people including a bridegroom arrested in a dramatic operation Sunday night have been arraigned before Garissa Senior Resident Magistrate to face early marriage and negligence charges.

The three include the father of the would be bride aged 14 and her aunt.

They were arrested by police who were accompanied by placard waving civic society activists.  The wedding party was held near Garissa Teachers Training College.

They are facing charges of marrying off the Class Five pupil at Frontier Academy in Garissa town.

They contravened the provision of the children Act 2001.

The ill-fated wedding ceremony proceeded as planned before activists stormed the hall alleging that the bride was a minor.

Elated family members who were dancing to tunes of a Somali wedding songs were left on shock.

Police and civil societies were acting on a tip-off from members of the public.