Kenya: community activists and law campaigners unite to end child marriage

Billian Music Family, a community organisation based in Mathare, Nairobi, and The Cradle, an NGO focused on children's rights and justice for children, have teamed up to raise awareness of child marriage among young people and families in Kenya.

An event was held at Kiboro Grounds in Mathare, with more than 300 people in attendance. Many different activities took pace during the event, including an address by a young artist, conversations among parents and children about child marriage, and a panel discussion predominantly formed of children on the topic 'End Child Marriage'.

The Cradle staffed an area of the grounds to help people understand the legal issues and the policy stands in parliament regarding child marriage. Beyond the event, The Cradle will be using the experience to work with children and develop a petition to parliament. This will call for any required new legislation and the resources needed to end child marriage in Kenya.

Participants included members of local boys and girls clubs, a football club, parents - including a group of parents of children with disabilities, who are supported at the Billian Music Family Centre in Mathare. Community leaders, including village elders, also took part. During the event, more than 300 took the pledge to end child marriage, and the organisations estimate that more than 1000 people were indirectly reached as a result of the event.