Bungoma MCAs pass Bill banning disco matangas to save teenage girls

Bungoma County Assembly

Ward representatives during a session at the Bungoma County Assembly. They have passed a Bill outlawing night vigils that precede burials.

Anyone found at funeral overnight vigils, popularly known as disco matanga, in Bungoma County could soon be arrested and arraigned.

This is because the county assembly has passed a Bill outlawing the night dances that precede burials.

The proposed law was presented on the floor of the assembly by Kimaeti Ward MCA Jack Wambulwa and was first received on October 7.

Mr Wambulwa noted that the county ranks among the top 10 with high numbers of early pregnancies.

“The early pregnancies [have resulted from] the frequent dances organised by mourners,” he said, adding men use the functions to prey on girls.

“The Bill will go a long way in helping to curb the rampant cases of teenage pregnancies, which gravely complicate the lives of the school girls,” said the Ford-Kenya party MCA.

The motion notes that, “Article 53 (1) (d) of the Constitution says every child has a right to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, all forms of violence, inhumane treatment and hazardous or exploitative labour.”

It adds that the Constitution gives county governments control over cultural practices.

Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga said on record that at least 6,000 teenage girls across the nine constituencies of Bungoma have been impregnated since the Covid-19 pandemic struck Kenya in March.