I am currently in primary six at Kalas Girls’ Primary School where I have been since 2019. I run away from home to escape forced marriage with a man older than me by many years. My father arranged to receive cows for bride price and get me married to a man who already had three wives. After he received the cows, he sent thugs to abduct me and take me to the home of the man he had connived with. On that fateful Sunday while at Church, six men and I not seen before came and grabbed me and led me away. They beat me all the way from my home village to the home of the man who was supposed to become my partner for life. They usually beat girls when they are being forced to marry to cause fear in the girls so they accept the forced marriage.
I stayed in that home for a week. I was very sad about being forced into marriage at an early age, moreover in exchange for cows. One day, as I was going to the borehole to fetch water, I met some girls of about my age who advised me to escape. They directed me to go to the Police at Amudat. They had learnt about this from the awareness meetings to listened to in the community. I planned to escape on the day my captor (called husband) would not be at home. As soon as he left home I too started my journey. It took me two days to reach Amudat. On the day I escaped, I spent the night on a tree. I arrived in Amudat in the afternoon of the second day. When I arrived in Amudat, I went to the Police Station and reported the case. I was taken by the Police to the Health Centre for medical checkup and medication. The Police then took me to Kalas Girls’ Primary School where I was told I would stay, study and be safe.
I have been at Kalas Girls’ School for six years now. My mother only came to visit me after three years. My father has never visited me at all. When my father learnt that I had escaped to school through the police, he relocated to Kenya for fear of being arrested. Kalas Girls Primary school is a home away from home for me and several other girls who I now consider my sisters. I am working hard to achieve my dream of becoming a Police Officer so that I can create awareness in my community on the dangers of violence against women and girls. I want early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation to end so that girls can live a free and safe life and grow up to serve their community and country.