/ 2 April 2001

FATHER JAILED FOR MARRYING OFF CHILD

A COURT in the Kenyan coastal town of Kilifi has sentenced a man to three years in jail for marrying off his 10-year-old daughter to an elderly neighbour, judicial sources said on Sunday. Kenga Ngombo, a father of six, gave away the schoolgirl to the 70-year-old neighbour to settle a 6 000 shilling ($78) debt he owed the old man. Ngombo told the court before he was sent to jail on Friday that he had borrowed the money to pay bride price for his unemployed son. – AFP