Mother charged with child neglect after trying to marry off 16-year-old daughter in Eldoret
A middle-aged woman from Soy sub-county has been charged with child neglect in an Eldoret court after being arrested for marrying off her 16-year-old daughter.
The woman, 36, a mother of two identified as Hellen Chesang Kemboi was arrested following a tip from locals who reported the event to a neighbouring police station.
Uasin Gishu County Commander Ayub Gitonga indicated they are in pursuit of the husband who has since gone into hiding.
“We have intensified the search for the suspect. We have reliable information which will help us arrest the suspect and charge him accordingly,” Gitonga said.
According to the court, on July 25 at Koisagat village, Soy sub-county, Uasin Gishu County, Kemboi willfully disregarded protecting her daughter from harmful culture by marrying off the girl and interrupting her education.
Prosecutors told the court that she violated Section 23 of the Children’s Act by failing to protect her child from harmful cultural rites.
“I was forced by my mother to marry this man, but I don’t want to,” read part of the girl’s statement in the police file.
Kemboi denied the charge and was released on a Sh50,000 bond with Sh40,000 cash bail.
The case will be mentioned on 12 September.
