Kwale parents warned against marrying off young girls

Reports indicate that the area has seen rising cases of child marriage, with parents pushing to marry off their girls for economic gains.

In one of the recent cases, police in the area established that a parent had married off his daughter – only to allege that she had eloped with a man from a neighbouring village.

Matters however came to a head after the supposed son-in-law allegedly failed to pay the dowry price.

Police said they have arrested two people in connection with the case, and are awaiting presentation in court.

Parents in Jego, Marenje and other notorious areas in Kwale have been asked to stop eroding the gains made in empowering the girl child in the society.