This archive report was first published on 16 July 2019.
On Monday evening, a dramatic rescue unfolded in Oloontoto village, Narok North, when armed police officers and a children's rights activist intervened in a forced marriage between a 9-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man.
According to reports, the raid was met with resistance from the man's relatives, with his mother allegedly hurling insults at the security team.
The rescue was sparked by a tip-off from Joshua Ole Kaputa, a children's rights crusader, who had previously warned the man, John Nchoe, through his brothers, against marrying the minor.
The girl, who had been 'married' to Nchoe for just a week, was taken to Narok Police station for further interrogation, where she revealed that she had tried to resist the marriage to pursue her education.
However, Nchoe denied any wrongdoing, claiming that he had paid a bride price and that his parents-in-law had consented to the marriage.
The incident highlights the persistence of child marriages and female genital mutilation in Narok County, where 40% of early pregnancies are attributed to these practices.
Despite the government's efforts to outlaw child marriages and FGM, the culture continues to thrive in some communities.
