Concerns over child marriage, teenage pregnancy and the influence of changing social practices have intensified in Nabilatuk, with residents calling for stronger measures to protect school-going girls. Residents of Arengesiep Village in Nabilatuk Town Council raised the concerns during a police community baraza supported by International Justice Mission (IJM), where they also called for closer monitoring of herders grazing in the area.
The residents linked some of their concerns to changing dress practices among Pian girls who marry into the Pokot community in neighbouring Amudat District. They said some of the girls return home wearing miniskirts, which they described as different from traditional Pian dressing, and claimed that younger girls have begun copying the style.
Lucy Iriama, a resident of Arengesiep, said the community was already struggling to combat teenage pregnancy and feared that emerging social trends could make the problem worse. “We have long grappled with teenage pregnancy, and we are trying to fight it. Seeing this kind of dress code emerging puts us at risk of losing the battle,” Iriama said.
Residents also raised concerns about alleged abductions of girls for marriage and interactions between schoolgirls and Pokot herdsmen grazing in Nabilatuk. Mary Achuka cited the case of a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted by a Pokot herdsman and taken to Amudat for marriage, with dowry reportedly paid a month later. She called for closer monitoring of herders in the district, saying abductions for marriage remain a concern.
Jessica Napeyok said her daughter, who married into the Pokot community, began buying miniskirts for her younger siblings, prompting her to confiscate and burn them. The meeting also exposed tensions over what residents described as an imbalance in intermarriages between the Pian and Pokot communities.
Robert Longoli said Pokot girls are often committed to marriage at an early age, making it difficult for Pian men to marry them. “For us we feel cheated because it’s only our girls that cross to Pokot but theirs can’t cross to Pian, yet we also need their girls,” Longoli said. Emmanuel Sagal said more balanced intermarriages could help ease longstanding tensions over pasture and water, particularly during dry seasons when Pokot herders cross into Pian areas.
Responding to the concerns, Nabilatuk Resident District Commissioner Linos Lotem, who is of Pokot origin, acknowledged that miniskirts are part of Pokot culture but said he would engage the Pokot community on appropriate dressing when visiting Pian communities. Lotem also warned parents against facilitating child marriages by accepting bride price and remaining silent.
“Are you aware that both the giver and receiver in early marriage cases are responsible? Pian people are not reporting cases of early marriages, but now they are accusing Pokot of taking the girls, yet they get cows and keep quiet,” Lotem said.
Lotem dismissed claims that Pokot girls are prohibited from marrying Pian men and advised Pian men to visit their sisters married in Pokot to identify potential partners. Charles Ejamu, Officer in Charge of the Child and Family Protection Unit at Nabilatuk Police Station, said many child marriages are conducted secretly and are only reported when families fail to agree on bride price.
“The community needs more sensitization on child marriage because it is becoming a common business in exchange for cows. Girls are denied education and wait to be taken for marriage,” Ejamu said. Police and community leaders called for increased sensitization and reporting of child marriage cases to protect girls and ensure they remain in school-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
