This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
On June 16, 2020, Kenya marked the Day of the African Child, but for many teenagers in Mombasa, the day was a reminder of the harsh realities they face.
Human rights activists in the coastal city have accused parents and the community at large of protecting people who defile children, leading to a spike in teenage pregnancies.
According to the activists, teenage pregnancies and early marriage were prevalent in Kisauni, Mombasa county, with over 20 girls having been impregnated since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Kisauni police boss, Julius Kiragu, said that most of the times, there is never a complainant making the cases hard to resolve. He added that the practice is a well-calculated business where parents marry off their children for money and wealth.
"Nowadays it's a business. These cases are rampant and the parents always want to solve them traditionally," decried Kiragu.
He further added that the children's rights are being abused by the parents who are tasked with the responsibility of protecting their children instead they are being used as a source of revenue.
County children's coordinator Philip Nzenge said Kisauni is leading with the highest number of minors with early pregnancies, attributing the cases to poor parenting and cultural practices.
He said most parents do not take their children to school to get an education but instead, prepare them for marriage.
"Culture is a big contributing factor, people feel it is okay for their adolescent girls to get married to older men for money and assets," he added.
However, his office is working closely with the deputy county commissioner's office to make ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
"A child does not belong to the parent alone; the government will come in and make sure this madness has been taken care of," Nzege warned.
