Child Early Forced Marriages are illegal! Wajir’s 17-Year-old Gaala Aden Needs Justice

Child early forced marriages even when illegal in Kenya continue to be practiced in different cultures. These practiceseven when largely come out of culture, some are from poverty related challenges that families face.

Gaala Aden, a 17-Year-old child who was supposed to be in school, to make her present and future better for herself was killed. In what was supposed to be a holy time, Ramadhan, a 17-year-old girl was burnt and killed in Wajir. Being from a refugee environment, the environment could be challenging. Gaala and other girls are not and will never be commodities for trade off. Gaala, had a dream, she had rights, she had a future, she had a voice but all this was shattered in the name of an illegality, in the name of practices that we have continued to pick from our cultures and religion.

Even in living with the man for about 27 days, she faced a lot of violence from the man who she was forced to be with and even when she refused the marriage, her defiance was met with death. Her body was killed and set on fire by men for refusing to marry a 55-year-old man. A girl whose body was burned, beaten by the relative to force her into submission is a scenario filled with so much pain.

The selfish nature of the political class to not speak, shout about this matter is wanting. Their priorities seeming very lost in what they were voted for. She Needs Justice, Justice should not be selective. In the same breath that MPs have been using to defend their own leaders, so should they be seen in Wajirshouting and calling for Justice. We should call out these MPs suffering from “selective amnesia” when they prioritize their selfish interest, while ignoring the loss of innocent lives.

The role of the family in this story is also wanting. When Gaala, shared voice notes to the mother about the violence she was experiencing would have been a wake-up call to go get their child back. The role of family in progressing these social issues must be called out. It was wrong for the mother for whatever reason to marry of their child. Child protection systems should be enhanced, this would have saved Gaala.

This is a very tragic and horrifying case that demands immediate justice. This continues to be a reminder of the deep-rooted issues of violence against girls and women in all their diversities including child forced early marriages. The impact of various forms of culture and religion are quite evident in this case. This case must be followed to its completion. Out of court settlements must not be seen. The law must supersede religion.

The police and the cultural leaders need to be held to account, any signs of danger must always be reported and action taken. Let’s call out these injustices that different people in our communities continue to face, for the sex workers who may be abused, killed, to the queer folks facing depression, women we have lost from femicide, to women who we lose from unsafe abortions.

These practices that continue to be practiced in our different tribes and religion need to be put to an end. From importing and progressing hate, violence against different diverse peoplein our communities, to religious leaders. Gaala, is one of the many girls who have continued to be denied protection, education. We need concrete action, stronger and proper enforcement of laws.

Stand for the rights and dignity of girls and women, we must demand for accountability, transparency in this action.  Justice must take shape and take action now! The late Gaala Aden and the others who have been forced to marriages need to get justice.

Alvin Mwangi

Youth Activist, Reproductive Health

X – @alvinmwangi254