'Disco matanga' blamed for girl child's low education level

Leaders have blamed night dances for increased cases of abuse of the girl child in Kisumu.

Cases of girls attending night dances, commonly known as 'disco matanga' in rural areas were on the rise, creating an avenue for defilement, early marriage and unwanted pregnancies.

Affected areas include Seme, Muhoroni, Nyakach and Nyando sub-counties, while the most notorious residential estates are Manyatta, Nyalenda and Kajulu.

The concerns were raised by leaders during the International Day of the Girl Child celebrations at Kit Mikayi Primary School, organised by Plan International.

The leaders cited 'disco matanga' as avenues where girls were exposed to drug abuse, sex and early marriages.

CHILD RIGHTS

Seme Sub-county Assistant County Commissioner Stephen Emojong said many under-age girls were attending night dances.

"It is during the 'disco matanga' that young girls are lured into having sex. The real intention for these dances is not always to mourn, but for entertainment," he said.

Mr Emojong'  asked the authorities not give permits for 'disco matanga' and rubbished arguments by some politicians who claimed the night vigils were part of their culture.

"Let us not hide behind culture and tradition to hurt our girl child. Strange characters come from very far to attend night dances. Their aim can be a security risk," said Emojong.

He challenged the society to guard against such vices that could lead to girls dropping out of school or contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

He also urged the girls not to allow their rights to be trampled on.

Plan International Programme Unit Manager Dorothy Amalemba said adolescents should be empowered to curb the vice.

"We have been sensitising the community on the need to protect the girl child for five years now, and we intend to continue with the programme," said Ms Amalemba.

EARLY MARRIAGES

According to a report by United Nations Children Fund, around 120 million girls under the age of 20 worldwide (about 1 in 10) have experienced forced intercourse, or other forced sexual acts.

Also, more than 700 million women alive today were married before their 18th birthday, while more than one in three (about 250 million) entered into a union before the age of 15.

In Kisumu, 32,000 boys are set to sit their Kenya Certificate for Primary Education exams against 30,000 girls.

The leaders claimed there was need for more girls to join school and have measures put in place to retain them.