Three standard eight girls from Magarini sub-county in Kilifi County, failed to turn up for the Kenya Certificate Primary School (KCPE) examination that begun on Tuesday for reportedly being married.
Confirming the absence of the three candidates in their respective examination centres on phone, Magarini Deputy County Commissioner Simon Lokorio, said the girls, two from Kaembeni Primary School and one from Burangi Primary School did not show up because they have started their new homes.
Lokorio revealed that early marriages and pregnancies among young girls are on the rise in the sub-county.
He warned those luring young girls into sexual activities leaving them victims of early marriages and pregnancies that they will be hunted down by the law.
However, the DCC said, “one girl from Hilltop Academy has not been able to write today’s papers due to illness, despite examination papers taken to the hospital.”
Earlier this year, Kilifi county was ranked amongst the worst counties in gender violence, motorcycle riders allegedly leading the culprits in taking advantage of poverty in many families, hence luring them into sexual activities for benefits such as sanitary towels.
In this year’s KCPE, Magarini sub-county has a total of 4,973 primary school candidates, 2,588 boys and 2,385 girls in 97 examination centres, 86 public schools and 11 private schools.