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Leaders sound alarm over rising divorce cases in Garissa, decry child rights violations

Garissa branch Supkem officials led by Sheikh Hassan Abdi. (Issa Hussein)

By Issa Hussein | 16 Apr 2024

He appealed to newlywed couples to prioritise tolerance and patience for the sake of their children's well-being.

Garissa SUPKEM officials have expressed concern over the increasing divorce cases, highlighting their impact on children's rights and well-being.

Speaking to journalists at their offices in Garissa on Tuesday, Sheikh Hassan Abdi, Vice Chairman, warned of the adverse effects of divorce on children, citing parental neglect and a lack of care as key issues.

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"In this unfortunate increase in divorce cases, it is the children that are suffering, since they are either abandoned by the father or the mother as the divorced couples engage in conflict and counter-accusations at the children's office and Kadhi courts," Sheikh Hasaan said.

He said cases of child abuse, drug abuse, and school dropouts are attributed to parental neglect post-divorce, particularly affecting children under the care of single parents.

"Most divorced women engage in Miraa selling to seek a livelihood for their children due to a lack of support from the child's father, leaving some of these young children unattended to at home, resulting in cases of child abuse," he noted.

He appealed to newlywed couples to prioritise tolerance and patience for the sake of their children's well-being.

Religious leaders and Kadhi courts were urged to provide enhanced spiritual guidance and counselling to address the surge in divorce cases.

Garissa County Children Coordinator Benjamin Kinyua confirmed the alarming prevalence of divorce-related parental negligence, highlighting its adverse effects on child welfare.

He said single mothers struggling to provide adequate care to their children were so engrossed in their daily activities that they lacked time to provide guidance to their children.