Written by Alice Njoki.
A new United Nations report has brought worrying news about the future of child marriage, saying that it could last until 2092.
Especially in rural areas where deep cultural beliefs around marriage and economic hardship have led to young girls getting married off before they reach adulthood.
The current statistics show that 23 percent of girls under 18 are married in Kenya, which is nearly 1 in 4 girls, and approximately 4 percent marry before they are 15, that is 1 in every 25 girls.
And these are not just numbers, they are young girls who find themselves thrust into adult life long before they should be living in a world often lacking hope and the opportunities that we take for granted, which is education and the space to dream.
In communities where livestock and bride prices are a sign of status, marrying off a daughter can be seen as a way to get out from under financial burdens for many families.
Cultural traditions are incredibly strong in that practice. In some communities, marrying off daughters at young ages is considered a means to ensure their future. That often means giving priority to economic aspects over the welfare of the girls themselves. In times of crisis, such as natural disasters, the case may even be worse. During recent floods, some families for example, said they saw no option but to marry off their daughters early to relieve financial status.
Although child marriage is illegal in Kenya, laws are often not enforced. In the countryside, many people are unaware of these laws, or feel local customs which replace national laws. “But this disconnect allows the practice to go on without repercussions, trapping many girls in cycles of poverty and stripping them of opportunities.”
There is hope, however. There are so many organizations and community leaders working around the clock to end child marriage by mobilizing to community action and working to protect the rights of girls.
Local champions are emerging to help educate families on the harms of early marriage and alternatives that will enable young girls. However, deep-seated gender inequality and economic difficulties many families experience continue to present major challenges.
The UN’s prediction is a reminder of work left to do to protect young girls in Kenya. Solutions for ending child marriage must be collective in nature, involving both education and economic support to families and rigorous enforcement of existing laws.
Until and unless these issues are treated with urgency and compassion, innumerable young girls will lose out on the bitter realities of early marriage and the opportunity for a better future.
Leave a Reply