{Members of a household in Kamashangi cell of Kamembe sector in Rusizi district have been caught red-handed by police in the process of getting a 16-year old girl married to a man living in Kenya.}
The information has been reported today morning by Kamashangi residents who informed cell officials that a minor girl studying in senior one was about to be married off Yousufu, a Rwandan living in Kenya.
Neighbors have told IGIHE that it has been few days since Yousufu paid the dowry of Rwf 400,000 to the family of the young girl.
“We were informed in the morning that the minor girl’s family took jerrycans and hoes to accompany her to the man who paid the dowry in Kenya. We don’t know his occupation since the man only collaborated with young girl’s mother.The daughter was unwilling to marry the man,” said Irankunda Eugenie, the representative of the National Women Council in Kamashangi cell.
“Sometimes dowry is secretly offered and the girl child immediately taken. The child’s mother told us that they received Rwf 400,000. The girl has told us that she was being forced to marry against her will,” said another neighbor.
The rescued girl has told members of the public at Kamashangi cell offices that all arrangements were against her will.
The girl’s parents, however, have denied have receiving the bride price but accepting that Yousufu visited them on July 18th 2016 to declare his interest as a future husband of their daughter where after he donated hoes and jerry cans.
“The young man came to take my daughter. I rejected the proposal even when my wife kept convincing me.The man didn’t pay the bride price but donated us hoes and jerrycans,” said Habimana Mawuridi, the father of the child.
Police has commended citizens who provided information on time and warned against under-age marriage described as child trafficking. No one knows the job of a one Yousuf living in Kenya. Police also asked parents to hand back donations from the suitor and take their daughter back to school.
The article 195 of Rwanda’s penal code, a person who involves in marrying off a minor or forcing the marriage is subjected to a sentence ranging from 6 months to 2 years with a fine from Rwf 100,000 to 300,000.
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