Police in Lamu County have rescued a Class Seven girl who had been married off to a 40-year-old man.
Lamu County Police Commander Moses Murithi on Sunday told Ntv that the suspect, identified as Peter Munene Njau from Ndeu village in Hindi Division, has also been arrested following a tip off from the public.
The 17-year-old girl is said to have been married off to the man by her parents.
Mr Murithi said they were looking for the parents who went into hiding after realising that their plan to force their girl into early marriage had backfired.
The police boss warned men against marrying minors, saying stern action will be taken against them.
“Acting on a tip off, my officers stormed the home where the 17-year-old girl had been married. They arrested one Peter Munene Njau who had been living with the minor as his wife in a marriage planned by parents. The man is currently in a police cell. We’re processing him for court. We’re also looking for the parents who are on the run,” said Mr Murithi.
Child marriages and defilement have greatly affected schooling for girls in Lamu, particularly in Hindi and Mpeketoni divisions.
Last week, police in Lamu arrested a 39-year-old man who had defiled his 14-year-old Class Three daughter.
In April this year, a 14-year-old Class Eight pupils was defiled and impregnated by two men in Hindi Division.
In July this year, a 32-year-old man was arrested after he was found engaging in sex with a Class Two pupil in Lamu.
In the same month, police arrested a 20-year-old man who had married a 12-year-old Class Three pupil in Witu Division.
And in October this year, Lamu police, in coordination with World Vision and religious leaders, rescued a Form One girl who had been married by an older man after a local teacher raised the alarm.
The 17-year-old girl from Mpeketoni Division had been married off by her uncle.
