It is really painful when you see a young girl getting married before getting an education. It is so sad and annoying to see a young girl denied the chance to achieve her goals and dreams. Child marriage is like rape because there is usually no consent from the girl’s side. Child marriage is like murder because it destroys the life and future of the girl.
Nearly 30% of girls in Kisumu County are married off before attaining the age of 18 and most of these cases occur in rural areas.
Parents are enablers of child marriage in Kisumu County, more so fathers. Since Kisumu County is a patriarchal society, women have no voice in this county. It is the men who decide about everything and their decisions are always final.
Poverty is the main reason as to why fathers in Kisumu County marry off their girls as if they are selling them. They view their daughters as economic assets and marry them off in exchange of dowry. Others marry off their daughters in order to pay their debts while others are completely ignorant.
These young girls are forced to drop out of school and become wives. Their dreams are completely destroyed and they become vulnerable to sexual and gender based violence, HIV and STI infection, Pregnancy related complications just to mention a few.
Child marriage is illegal in Kenya. The Children acts states that “No person shall subject a child to female circumcision, early marriage or other cultural rites, customs or traditional practices that are likely to negatively affect the child’s life, health, social welfare, dignity or physical or psychological development”
Stopping child marriage has a positive impact for the girl child and on the family. When a girl is educated the family and the whole society benefits at large. Educating young girls will enable them create a brighter, healthier and more prosperous future for themselves, family and the society.
It is time for Kisumu residents to start talking about child marriage. The silence has to end now since being silent is also part of the crime. Together we shall protect the future of our girls. Let's raise our voices against child marriage. No girl child should fall a victim of child marriage in Kisumu County.
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