‘Don’t keep quiet’: Tana River locals urged to report cases of forced early marriages

This follows an increase in cases of early marriages in Tana River County, which has led to many cases of drop outs.

 Speaking on Thursday, Tana River Woman Representative Amina Dika said high poverty levels have led some parents to illegally ‘sell off’ their daughters, while others are taken advantage of by men. 

 She spoke during the distribution of 100,000 sanitary pads to adolescent girls in 178 primary schools.

 Period poverty has also been a major concern, where girls have been lured into illegal unions in exchange for a few sanitary towels and food.

 Teenage girls were urged to desist from engaging in sexual activities or marriages which could hinder them from accessing education.

 “Our girls need to focus on their education and locals should not cheat them into early marriage,” Dika said.

 Lawreen Mwende a student at Minjila primary thanked the Women \rep for supporting them with sanitary towels and assured her that their performance will go up as there would be no more cases of absenteeism.