Esampukike location Senior Assistant Chief Martha Nashipae has banned night prayers and parties for school going girls within her location with immediate effect to curb unwanted pregnancies which eventually lead to early marriages for the girls.
Speaking during a sensitization forum in Esampukike location in Kajiado West Sub County where more than three hundred school going girls converged, Nashipae stated that the night prayers commonly referred to as keshas provide an opportunity for men to prey on the young girls leading to unwanted pregnancies.
“Parents should be aware at all times where their children are and what activities they are undertaking. No girl should attend the night prayers (keshas) nor parties at night. Let them attend church during the day and on Sundays but should stay at home during the night,” said Nashipae
Nashipae has also warned parents and guardians who are planning to circumcise or marry off their girls that the government is keen to ensure that they will face the law.
“We want our girls to learn and be valuable people in future just like the Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya. No girl should be subjected to Female Genital Mutilation or early marriage,” said Nashipae
“It is saddening to see underage girls getting pregnant and being forced to get married at the ages between 13 to 17 years. This is uncalled for and we condemn such acts with the strongest terms possible,” she added.
At the same time, the area chief has warned school going boys against operating in the boda boda and sand harvesting businesses saying that they were a major contributor towards them dropping out of school.
She urged the chairmen of the boda bodas and sand harvesting saccos to consider the boy’s age while recruiting them into their saccos adding that legal action would be taken against saccos which have recruited boys under 18 years of age.
The sensitization forum on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early pregnancies and early marriages was organized by Kenya Women Network and Action Aid.
By Sammy Rayiani and Diana Meneto
