Three people who were arrested on Wednesday for conspiring to marry off a 15-year-old girl have been arraigned in a Loitoktok law court.
Thomas Mpatai, Esupatet Seketeti and Joseph Lekurrukule Mpatai denied a charge of failing to protect the minor against harmful cultural rite namely, early marriage which happened on diverse dates in the month of June 2022.
Lekurrukule who is also chief of Olorika location and Thomas Mpatai the Bishop of Holiness Church at Iltilal denied another count of willfully denying the girl right to live with and be cared by her grandmother by taking her away from their homestead at Lolmarorok village on June 20, 2022
Seketeti who is the minor’s grandmother and the guardian of the girl denied another count of failing to protect the minor from early marriage by marrying her off to Joshua Dokolo on June 20, 2022 at Iltilal village.
Resident Magistrate Samuel Ndungu directed that Seketeti to be released on cash bail of Sh 10,000 while the other two each be released on cash bail of Sh 20,000 and directed the matter be mentioned on July 11, for pre-trail directions.
The trio were arrested on Wednesday by local administration together with officers from departments of Children and Education after getting information that the girl was married off on Monday with the full knowledge of the area chief.
