In Kenya, marriage is illegal before the age of 18. Nonetheless, child marriage is accepted and recognized in many communities with little consequence.

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The causes of child marriage include socio-economic factors, such as poverty, low education and the treatment of girls as property. Capacity gaps among some police officers and court officials and cultural reluctance on the part of some community and religious leaders hamper efforts to delay marriage.

 

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global push by all member nations to end human rights abuses in all forms began in earnest in 2000. In Kenya, the results have brought systemic changes, including the national legal marriage age. The rate of child marriage had begun to trend downward from 26 percent to 23 percent in the prior decade. We see that progress on the ground with growing awareness and appreciation for embracing the moral, legal and economic reasons to ensure girls have equal rights. However, the pandemic and its economic fallout are working against that momentum.

 

Our comprehensive rights-based strategy delivers four pillars of opportunity--food and shelter, menstrual hygiene empowerment, education and community-based human rights training--which are each proven interventions to neglected human rights. Together, the pillars unite and ignite the power of community in delivering on the vision of human rights for all. 

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Together, we must elevate the social value of the girl child in all families, communities and countries. It is time for us to stand with and for girls, be accountable to them and invest in a future that affirms their agency, leadership and potential.

 

You can read more on our Child Marriage issue page.