By Jephitha Mwai.
Police in Narok County on Sunday, July 14 arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of marrying an underage girl.
Acting on a tip-off from Olooltoto Village residents, police arrested the quadragenarian at his home, where he was found with the 12-year-old girl, whom he recently married according to Maasai customs.
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Narok County police commander, Aden Yunis, confirmed the incident, saying all those who arranged the illegal wedding ceremony will be arrested and arraigned.
The suspect was arraigned on Tuesday, July 16.
Mr Yunis said the government will continue to fight against cultures promoting early marriages.
Statistics show that the rate at which young girls are married off to adults has reduced in Narok County, with only two cases reported so far in 2019.
According to John Kaputa, who is a peace ambassador in Narok County, communities in the area are gradually shunning harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriages.
Mr Kaputa has urged local administration, including chiefs and their assistants, to be on the look-out for perpetrators of FGM and those promoting early marriages.
(Additional reporting by Susan Kogi)
