News
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Marriage ends as pregnant pupil is rescued
A 13-year-old girl rescued from forced marriage in West Pokot yesterday said she wants to go back to school.
Helen Arube, a Standard Five pupil at Kitut Primary School in Kacheliba constituency, says she wants to continue with her education.
Yesterday, the Kitale Catholic Justice and Peace Commission women's programme officer Jane Kariuki, who rescued the girl, said that it was unfortunate that she was four months pregnant.
She said the girl had sought assistance at Amakuriat Catholic Church before she was captured.
A good samaritan taking care of the girl said that she is willing to go back to school but due to the pregnancy, she did not know what to do.
Reports say her father, a herdsman in the Alale area, had vowed to kill her for running away from the marriage. He is said to have been paid some bride price. Sources said that before the girl was married off, her father had received 40 head of cattle.
A senior police officer at Kacheliba police post told the Nation they were looking for the man.
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