Man charged for marrying teenage girl

A 20-year-old man from Kamanyore village in Tharaka Constituency was yesterday charged, in a Marimanti court, for marrying a 16-year-old Class Eight girl.

The accused Mr Peter Murithi pleaded guilty of the offence before the court’s principal magistrate. The court ruled that he pays a bond of Sh100,000 or be remanded until Monday next week when the judgment will be made.

Murithi’s father, Samuel Gichugu Makembo and the teenage girl’s mother were also charged for sanctioning the marriage.

The two will also remain in remand until Monday awaiting judgement, or pay a bond of Sh100,000 each.

Cases of early marriages, teenage pregnancies and other forms of girl child abuse are on the rise in the region, during the Covid-19 period, after schools were closed and children wander all over.

The situation is replicated in other regions across the country.