A family in Kaptolomwo village, Kasei ward, West Pokot is in agony after a thirteen-year-old girl, who is a standard eight candidate went missing, for more than a month now, after she was abducted from her home on 26th April 2019 in a suspected forced marriage case.
Belinda Chelimo, index number two in her class at Kaptolomwo Primary school was abducted from their home while she was sleeping.
Reports allege that the young girl was taken to the neighbouring country Uganda. Religious leaders have now put the government on task to look for her. Her family fears that she could be raped and forced into early marriage.
Her mother Lois Chepotopolel said that she believes her daughter was taken to Uganda. “I want my daughter to come back to school. I am poor and she is the only hope of my life,” she said.
According to Chepotopolel, a middle-aged man with around 30 men came to her home and took away the girl forcefully.
Speaking to the Press in Kapenguria, religious leaders in the County led by retired Bishop Stephen Kewasis and Pokot Pastors Network Chairperson Rev Ronald Chumum issued a two-week ultimatum for the government to bring back the girl failure to which they will be forced to take an action.
Bishop Kewasis called on the government to take stern measures to stop underage marriages. The leaders who condemned the incident accused the security team for failing to trace the girl. “We blame the government for failing to take action. Political leaders should also intervene in this issue. The County commissioner should take action and bring back the girl,” said Rev Chumum.
Anti FGM activist working for I –rep Foundation in the County Ms Domtillah Chesang demanded more action to rescue the girl.
She called on the County government through the women representative to set up rescue centers to help girls who ran away from their homes because of the vices to be hosted in a safe environment.“How much of this real when we have children being abducted and tortured, their rights violated left and right in the same area?” asked Chesang.
Chesang said that cases of child and forced marriages have been rampant in North Pokot.
Area Chief Achoroki Lokwalado said that they have tried to follow up the girl in Uganda but were unable to trace her.
West Pokot County commissioner Apollo Okello said the case is under investigation.