Stricter laws needed to end forced marriages, say NGEC and KEWOPA

In a bid to eradicate cases of forced marriages in the country, the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) and the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) have called the government to implement stricter laws.

Their call comes in response to the tragic murder of Gaal Aden Abdi, a 17-year-old refugee who was forcibly married to a 55-year-old man.

She endured severe abuse before being brutally killed, with her body burned beyond recognition for refusing to get married to the man.

In separate statements released on Thursday, March 27, the chairpersons of NGEC and KEWOPA strongly condemned the incident.

They called on security agencies to conduct thorough investigations and ensure that all those responsible face justice.

The two organizations also called on the government to provide comprehensive support, including medical, psychological, and legal assistance, to survivors of forced marriages and gender-based violence (GBV) across the country.

NGEC chairperson Rehema Jaldesa condemned the abuse and Gaala's murder, stating that it was not only a grave violation of human and children's rights but also a reflection of the alarming rise in gender-based violence across the country.

"We demand a thorough and swift investigation into Gaala's murder and ensure that those responsible are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," Jaldesa asserted.

KEWOPA chairperson Leah Sankaire echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for community leaders and policymakers to challenge and dismantle harmful cultural practices that perpetuate violence against women.

"KEWOPA calls upon all stakeholders to work collaboratively in ensuring that justice is not only served but that long-term measures are put in place to prevent such incidents," Sankaire stated.

Before her tragic death, Gaala left several voicemails for her mother, detailing the daily physical abuse she suffered at the hands of both her husband and his relatives.

She expressed her desperation, stating that she did not want to remain in the marriage and would rather return to the refugee camp where she had previously lived.

Gaala informed her mother that her abusers were taking away her phone, preventing her from communicating any further.

Shortly after, her mother received a call, informing her that her daughter had been murdered.