This archive report was first published on 2 November 2021.
Published on November 2, 2021, a court in Tana River County has highlighted the alarming rise of sexual offenses in the region, attributing it to harmful traditional and cultural practices.
Garsen Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Rotich noted that parents often misinterpret cultural and traditional norms, inspiring immoral habits in their children.
During the Children's Week, the court heard 45 cases, with more than 15 influenced by retrogressive cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and male circumcision.
"Parents have passed the wrong message to children, that once they have undergone the rites of passage, they are adults and mature to decide their lives," Magistrate Rotich said.
He further stated that most cases of defilement in the area involve minors in illicit relationships in primary and secondary schools, with parents arranging engagement ceremonies and marriages for the minors.
"The high number of children dropping out of school to marry are supported by parents. The children have interpreted marriage more as a priority than education," Magistrate Rotich said.
He warned that unless parents end these practices, children will continue to be the losers and poverty will persist.
"We need to protect their dreams, and that should start by ditching the harmful cultural practices and encouraging morality in the traditional practices," Magistrate Rotich said.
