10 girls rescued from early marriages in Kwale

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A photo of a 12 year old girl forced to marry older men. 10 girls in Kwale County were rescued from early marriages in June./COURTESY

At least 10 girls in Kwale County aged between seven and 17 years were rescued from getting married in June.

According to Sauti ya Wanawake, a human rights organization based in the Coast region with its head office being in Mombasa County, the girls were rescued from forced marriages and enrolled back in school.

The organization says most of the girls were forced into to get married by their parents/guardians while others were forced to get married due to early pregnancies.

Sauti ya Wanawake says statistics show that 60 percent of girls in Kwale County have been sexually molested, circumcised, or forced to get married early.

Even though child marriages still remain common in different parts of the country, it has been illegal since the Children’s Act became law in 2001.

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