Rising cases of teenage pregnancies and early marriages in Amudat District have been linked to the annual Lopeikiret courtship dance, with authorities warning that the cultural practice is exposing girls aged 13 to 18 to early sexual activity and forced marriages.
District leaders and health workers say the dance, held between October and December among the Pokot community, attracts large numbers of adolescents, where boys identify potential brides, often leading to relationships that result in teenage pregnancies.
Health workers at Kosike Health Centre III say the impact of last year’s events is now being seen in increased antenatal attendance among teenage girls. Cathy Juliet Aloko, the Clinical Officer in charge of the facility, said there has been a sharp rise in teenagers seeking antenatal services since February this year.“We are experiencing high numbers of teenagers seeking antenatal services. Girls aged 14 to 16 are the highest compared to previous years,” Aloko said.
She explained that most pregnancies occur during the October–December period when the dances are held, with cases only becoming visible months later when the girls begin attending antenatal clinics. “By the time it reaches March and April, they start registering those who visit the facilities for antenatal services,” she added.
Aloko also cited a case of a 14-year-old girl from Kosike Village who delivered a premature baby and is still under monthly medical monitoring due to a lack of parenting preparedness. Authorities have urged stronger advocacy and intervention to address the trend, which they say is becoming increasingly difficult to control.
Community leaders also point to early marriages driven by cattle exchanges and cultural expectations as a contributing factor. A community mobilizer in Karita Town Council, Anna Namiti, said she once intervened in a case where a minor was being forced into marriage with a man who already had multiple wives.Namiti said the girl fled to her home for protection but was intercepted by relatives near the Alakas area while being taken to Amudat town. “Her relatives grabbed her and crossed over to the Kenyan side. I liaised with police at Kacheliba in Kenya, who set up a roadblock and intercepted the relatives who are now in police custody,” Namiti said.
Namiti said the issue requires collective responses from the community, government, and development partners. Dorcus Chalein, Amudat District Councillor, said the Lopeikiret dance has long promoted teenage pregnancies, while parents’ “high appetite for cows” drives early marriages.
“We have tried to raise the matter at the district council, but our efforts are futile because there are no bylaws to guide us. Formulating ordinances takes time for the Attorney General to approve,” Chalein said. She added that the practice is deeply rooted in culture, making it hard to break without government enforcement.
Amudat Grade One Magistrate Simon Opolot acknowledged that cases of forced marriage and defilement have become rampant. “Although the law says couples can marry upon attaining majority age, the Pokot community has made it worse with elders marrying girls as young as 14,” Opolot said.“It’s very wrong. The girl child should be allowed to enjoy the right to education and complete the full cycle before being taken away for marriage,” he said-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
