In e na ional Jou nal o Inno a i e In en ions in Social Science and Humani ies
ISSN(p in ): 3050-6921, ISSN(online): 3050-693X
Volume 02 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025
DOI: 10.58806/ijiissh.2025. 2i10n05
Page No: 260-272
260 Volume 02 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 Co esponding Au ho : D . Cha les Kipchumba Kisigo , Phd
Imp o ing Young Ma akwe Peoples' Unde s anding o Ma iage Righ s
D . Cha les Kipchumba Kisigo , Phd
Depa men o Teache Managemen and Educa ional Assessmen and Resou ce Cen e Uasin Gishu Coun y, Kenya
ABSTRACT
ARTICLE DETAILS
In Ma akwe , Kenya, cus oma y p ac ices such as ini ia ion i es and elde s’ au ho i y o en
o e shadow s a u o y ma iage laws. As a esul , many young people possess only pa ial awa eness
o hei legal igh s, lea ing hem ulne able o ea ly ma iage, gende ed inequali ies, and limi ed
p o ec ion unde o mal jus ice sys ems. This s udy he e o e in es iga ed Imp o ing Young
Ma akwe Peoples' Unde s anding o Ma iage Righ s. The s udy was guided by he ollowing
esea ch ques ions: Wha ba ie s hinde young Ma akwe people om unde s anding ma iage
igh s? Wha s a egies can be applied o e ec i ely imp o e young Ma akwe people’s awa eness
and unde s anding o ma iage igh s in hei communi y con ex ? G ounded in Bandu a’s Social
Lea ning Theo y, he s udy employed a c oss-sec ional su ey design complemen ed wi h quali a i e
me hods in Ma akwe Eas and Wes , Kenya. A sample o 300 you h (18–35 yea s) comple ed he
You h Ma iage Righ s Awa eness Tes , while 6 FGDs and 10 KIIs p o ided con ex ual insigh s.
Da a we e analyzed using SPSS (desc ip i e s a is ics) and NVi o ( hema ic analysis). The s udy
e ealed ha young Ma akwe people ace signi ican ba ie s o unde s anding ma iage igh s.
YMRAT esul s (n = 300) showed a mode a e mean sco e o 12/20 (60%), wi h 40% demons a ing
insu icien unde s anding and only 16% s ong comp ehension. No ma i e awa eness (65%) was
highe han s a u o y (52–58%) and p ocedu al knowledge, which emained weakes . Family and
elde s domina ed in o ma ion sou ces (54%), o en ein o cing misin o ma ion such as equa ing
b idep ice wi h legal ma iage. Cul u al i es, gende ed silencing, and dis us o o mal jus ice
u he widened gaps. Communi y dialogues, school-based modules, pee p og ams, mobile legal
clinics, and local-language media eme ged as p omising cul u ally g ounded s a egies o imp o e
awa eness. The s udy concludes ha young Ma akwe people ace cul u al, educa ional, and
s uc u al ba ie s ha hinde ull unde s anding o ma iage igh s. Elde s’ au ho i y, ini ia ion i es,
low li e acy, language misma ches, gende ed silencing, and limi ed access o jus ice sus ain pa ial
awa eness and a knowledge–ac ion gap. The s udy ecommends ha in e en ions be cul u ally
g ounded and gende -sensi i e. Communi y dialogues wi h elde s and eligious leade s should
legi imize s a u o y p o ec ions, while school-based ci ic modules, pee educa o s, and women’s
g oups s eng hen p ocedu al li e acy and sa e engagemen . T ansla ing laws in o Ma akwe ,
simpli ying ma e ials, and expanding mobile clinics and ma ke -day d i es will link awa eness wi h
p ac ice and p o ec ion.
KEYWORDS: Unde s anding, Ma iage Righ s, Ma akwe You h, You h Awa eness, Cul u al
Ba ie s
Published On:
10 Oc obe 2025
A ailable on:
h ps://ijiissh.com/
INTRODUCTION
Ma iage emains one o he mos endu ing ins i u ions ac oss socie ies, p o iding no only a amewo k o conjugal ela ionships
bu also a ounda ion o amily li e, social o de , and communi y con inui y. Ye , he ways in which ma iage is de ined,
p ac iced, and egula ed di e g ea ly ac oss cul u es and his o ical momen s (Ka ney & B adbu y, 2020). These di e ences
include he condi ions unde which ma iage is con ac ed, he ce emonies ha alida e he union, he exchange o esou ces
be ween amilies, and he obliga ions ha bind spouses. Such a ia ions ca y signi ican implica ions o how young people come
o unde s and wha ma iage en ails and he igh s hey may claim o be denied wi hin hose unions (Zhu, 2021). This s udy
add esses hese issues wi hin he Ma akwe communi y o Elgeyo-Ma akwe Coun y, Kenya, wi h pa icula emphasis on how
young people’s awa eness o ma iage igh s can be s eng hened.
Imp o ing Young Ma akwe Peoples' Unde s anding o Ma iage Righ s
261 Volume 02 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 Co esponding Au ho : D . Cha les Kipchumba Kisigo , Phd
Fo he pu poses o his inqui y, ma iage is concep ualized as a socially o legally ecognized pa ne ship be ween a man and a
woman who, upon comple ing cus oma y, eligious, o s a u o y equi emen s, assume mu ual obliga ions o ca e, legi imacy, and
o en p oc ea ion (Ha is, Ande son, & Viscon i, 2022). This de ini ion e lec s Kenya’s legal plu alism: s a u o y, cus oma y, and
eligious o ms o ma iage a e all ecognized unde law, hough cus oma y p ac ices o en domina e e e yday li e and s ongly
in luence pe cep ions o igh s and du ies (G eene, Siddiqi, & Abula age, 2023). The coexis ence o hese pa allel egimes c ea es
bo h oppo uni ies and obs acles o he e ec i e communica ion o igh s o young people p epa ing o ma i al li e.
Ma iage igh s, in his con ex , e e o he cons ella ion o en i lemen s ha low om bo h s a u o y p o isions and communi y
no ms. Legally, hese include p o ec ions o ee consen , minimum ma iage age, inhe i ance and p ope y igh s, main enance,
cus ody, and ecou se agains ha m ul p ac ices (Mu hii & Associa es, 2025). Socially, igh s a e o en exp essed h ough
p ac ices such as b ide weal h, i ual ecogni ion, gende ed oles in decision-making, and symbolic ma ke s o ma i al au ho i y
(Aku ugu, De y, & Domanban, 2022). Unde s anding ma iage igh s hus equi es mo e han legal li e acy, i demands cul u al
luency and an abili y o na iga e he expec a ions embedded in local ins i u ions.
Despi e p og essi e e o ms, Kenya’s demog aphic indica o s illus a e why g ea e e o is needed o imp o e you h
unde s anding o ma iage igh s. The 2022 Kenya Demog aphic and Heal h Su ey e eals pe sis en incidences o ea ly
ma iage, especially among gi ls in u al a eas, alongside sha p inequali ies in awa eness and access o legal p o ec ions (Kenya
Na ional Bu eau o S a is ics & ICF, 2023). Coun y-le el s udies con i m ha egions such as Elgeyo- Ma akwe ace heigh ened
isks o child ma iage, school d opou , and limi ed legal ecou se (UNFPA ESARO & Equali y Now, 2023). These eali ies
unde sco e ha legal amewo ks a e insu icien unless accompanied by delibe a e s a egies o enhance young people’s
comp ehension and agency.
One o he mos challenging aspec s o ma i al eligibili y in Ma akwe is he con inued salience o ini ia ion i es, including emale
geni al mu ila ion/cu ing (FGM/C). While p e alence has declined na ionally, some communi ies main ain he p ac ice in
sec ecy, he eby ein o cing adi ional ma ke s o ma iageabili y (Mohamud, Qu eshi, de Wild , & Jones, 2021). Resea ch in
Elgeyo-Ma akwe highligh s how al e na i e i es o passage, shi ing a i udes, and in e gene a ional dialogue a e slowly
eshaping pa hways in o ma iage (Chepchi chi & Kagoiya, 2024). Ye , he pe sis ence o ha m ul p ac ices poin s o he u gen
need o imp o ed awa eness campaigns and educa ional s a egies ha ame igh s as bo h cul u ally legi ima e and legally
binding.
P ocesses o socializa ion emain cen al o how young people acqui e knowledge abou ma iage. Family eachings, ini ia ion
eachings, schooling, eligious messages, and pee in luence all con ibu e o shaping wha you h belie e abou ma iage igh s
and obliga ions (Ka kashadze, Kup ash ili, & Gugeshash ili, 2023). Howe e , hese sou ces o lea ning a e une en, gende , age,
and educa ional a ainmen s ongly in luence he ex en o which s a u o y p o ec ions a e in e nalized (Nilsen e al., 2020).
Consequen ly, many young people en e ma iage wi hou a clea g asp o hei legal en i lemen s, lea ing hem ulne able o
coe cion, exploi a ion, o loss o igh s.
The in e sec ion o gende and cul u e is especially c i ical. His o ically, among he Ma akwe and o he Kalenjin sub-g oups,
au ho i y in ma iage has been la gely male-cen e ed, wi h b ide weal h and polygyny s uc u ing expec a ions abou lineage and
household powe (Julius, 2025). Women’s igh s o land and decision-making emain cons ained unde cus oma y egimes,
despi e s a u o y gua an ees o equali y. O al his o ies and ecen ac i ism e eal ongoing s uggles o expand women’s oice in
ma iage nego ia ions and p ope y claims (Tanui, 2024). Fo young people, especially adolescen gi ls, imp o ing unde s anding
o igh s is no me ely academic, i is a pa hway o enhanced agency and p o ec ion.
Di e ences ac oss age g oups u he complica e his pic u e. Adolescen s emain deeply in luenced by pa en al au ho i y and
communal no ms, while olde you h exposed o schooling o u ban li e encoun e s a u o y messaging and al e na i e gende
models (Po ey e al., 2022). Educa ion plays a pa icula ly decisi e ole, i delays ma iage, ansmi s ci ic knowledge, and
cul i a es c i ical awa eness abou legal p o ec ions (Fi ia e al., 2024). S ill, he ansla ion o schooling in o p ac ical igh s
awa eness is inconsis en , depending on cu iculum con en and communi y suppo s uc u es.
Kenya’s legal amewo k, including he Ma iage Ac , s ipula es o mal ecogni ion o cus oma y ma iages h ough egis a ion,
aiming o gua an ee s a u o y p o ec ions such as inhe i ance and p ope y di ision (Njaga & Co. Ad oca es, 2024). Ye ,
egis a ion emains low, pa ly due o limi ed awa eness and bu eauc a ic ba ie s. In Ma akwe , amilies o en p io i ize
cus oma y legi imacy o e legal ecogni ion, c ea ing gaps in igh s p o ec ion. Communi y in e en ions, such as al e na i e i es
o passage and NGO-led campaigns, seek o close hese gaps, bu success depends hea ily on whe he young people hemsel es
unde s and and accep he legi imacy o s a u o y igh s (Mohamud e al., 2021).
Imp o ing you h unde s anding o ma iage igh s he e o e equi es s a egies ha in eg a e law, cul u e, educa ion, and local
ins i u ions. Wi hou his in eg a ion, young people emain caugh be ween s a u o y p omises and cus oma y obliga ions, o en
Imp o ing Young Ma akwe Peoples' Unde s anding o Ma iage Righ s
262 Volume 02 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 Co esponding Au ho : D . Cha les Kipchumba Kisigo , Phd
unable o asse igh s in p ac ice. Economic p eca i y in ensi ies hese challenges, as some households iew ea ly ma iage
and b ide weal h as coping s a egies in he ace o po e y (Ahinko ah e al., 2024). Fo young Ma akwe people, pa icula ly
gi ls, igh s awa eness can mean he di e ence be ween an empowe ing union and one ha pe pe ua es ulne abili y.
This s udy ook se iously he need o map no only wha young Ma akwe people know abou ma iage igh s bu also how hei
unde s anding can be imp o ed. By disagg ega ing knowledge by gende , age, and educa ional exposu e, he esea ch sough o
iden i y bo h he gaps and he oppo uni ies o in e en ion. In doing so, i con ibu es o b oade na ional deba es on educing
ea ly ma iage, e adica ing ha m ul p ac ices, and b idging he gap be ween law and li ed eali y. Th ough a cul u ally g ounded
and you h-cen e ed analysis, he s udy aimed o gene a e ac ionable insigh s ha suppo bo h policy and communi y-d i en
s a egies o imp o ing young people’s awa eness and exe cise o ma iage igh s in Elgeyo-Ma akwe Coun y.
S a emen o he P oblem
Kenya’s legal amewo k clea ly ecognizes s a u o y, cus oma y, and eligious ma iages and se s he minimum ma iage age a
18 yea s (Me oka-Mu ua, 2024; Njaga & Co. Ad oca es, 2024). Ye in Elgeyo-Ma akwe Coun y, he law o en ails o ansla e
in o p ac ice. The 2022 Kenya Demog aphic and Heal h Su ey shows ha 15 pe cen o gi ls aged 15 o 19 a e al eady ma ied
o in union (KNBS & ICF, 2023). Ha m ul cul u al p ac ices such as emale geni al cu ing con inue o ma k gi ls as ― eady o
ma iage,‖ accele a ing ea ly unions (Tanui, 2024). Many cus oma y ma iages emain un egis e ed, excluding women om
inhe i ance igh s, di o ce p o ec ions, and p ope y claims (Njaga & Co. Ad oca es, 2024). This pe sis en gap be ween he law
and li ed eali y highligh s a undamen al p oblem, young people in Ma akwe o en lack knowledge o he igh s ha could
p o ec hem.
Low le els o unde s anding o ma iage igh s among you h a e shaped by in e sec ing challenges. Gende no ms silence young
women in decision-making p ocesses while ele a ing male dominance in ma i al a angemen s (Aku ugu e al., 2022; Julius,
2025). Adolescen s, pa icula ly younge gi ls, a e p essu ed in o unions whe e hey ha e li le ba gaining powe and limi ed
abili y o ac on legal p o ec ions (Ahinko ah e al., 2024). Weak access o quali y educa ion and he absence o igh s- ocused
con en in schools u he deny young people he knowledge needed o ecognize o claim en i lemen s (Po ey e al., 2022). As a
esul , many Ma akwe you h na iga e ma iage wi hou an in o med unde s anding o consen , legal egis a ion, p ope y igh s,
o p o ec ions agains ha m ul p ac ices.
Al hough na ional su eys documen he scale o child ma iage, hey p o ide li le insigh in o how o imp o e young people’s
awa eness o ma iage igh s in speci ic communi ies. In Ma akwe , he e is scan e idence on wha me hods a e mos e ec i e in
equipping you h wi h knowledge ha is bo h legally accu a e and cul u ally ele an . Wi hou his e idence, in e en ions isk
being misdi ec ed, gene ic, o ine ec i e in changing beha io . The consequence is a gene a ion en e ing unions wi hou adequa e
awa eness o hei igh s, pe pe ua ing cycles o ulne abili y, inequali y, and legal exclusion.
This s udy add essed ha gap by ocusing squa ely on imp o ing young Ma akwe peoples’ unde s anding o ma iage igh s. I
sough o iden i y he ba ie s ha limi awa eness, assess he s a egies ha can e ec i ely ansmi knowledge, and gene a e
e idence-based ecommenda ions o in e en ions ha empowe you h. By g ounding solu ions in local eali ies, he s udy aimed
o ans o m igh s om abs ac legal p o isions in o p ac ical ools ha young people can unde s and, claim, and use. In doing
so, i will p o ide a ounda ion o s onge p o ec ions, educed ha m ul p ac ices, and mo e equi able ma iages wi hin he
Ma akwe communi y.
Resea ch Ques ions
The s udy was guided by he ollowing esea ch ques ions:
Wha ba ie s hinde young Ma akwe people om unde s anding ma iage igh s?
Wha s a egies can be applied o e ec i ely imp o e young Ma akwe people’s awa eness and unde s anding o
ma iage igh s in hei communi y con ex ?
METHODOLOGY RESEARCH DESIGN
The s udy employed a c oss-sec ional su ey design complemen ed wi h quali a i e me hods. The su ey p o ided a b oad
o e iew o he cu en le el o awa eness o ma iage igh s among young Ma akwe people, while he quali a i e componen
o e ed deepe insigh s in o ba ie s and p ac ical s a egies o imp o emen . This design was chosen because i cap u ed bo h
measu able pa e ns and li ed expe iences a a single poin in ime, making i easible and cos -e ec i e o co e ing he sca e ed
u al communi ies in Ma akwe Eas and Ma akwe Wes sub-coun ies.
S udy A ea
The s udy was ca ied ou in Ma akwe Eas and Ma akwe Wes sub-coun ies o Elgeyo- Ma akwe Coun y, Kenya. These sub-
Imp o ing Young Ma akwe Peoples' Unde s anding o Ma iage Righ s
263 Volume 02 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 Co esponding Au ho : D . Cha les Kipchumba Kisigo , Phd
coun ies we e selec ed because hey ep esen a eas whe e cus oma y p ac ices emain s ong and whe e ensions be ween
s a u o y ma iage laws and cul u al no ms con inue o shape you h expe iences.
Ta ge Popula ion
The a ge popula ion comp ised young Ma akwe people aged 18 o 35 yea s esiding in Ma akwe Eas and Wes . This age g oup
was selec ed because i ep esen s he s age o li e when ma iage decisions a e mos common, and unde s anding o igh s is
c i ical o ensu ing legal and social p o ec ion.
Sampling P ocedu e and Sample Size
A mul i-s age sampling p ocedu e was adop ed. In he i s s age, sub-loca ions we e andomly selec ed om bo h Ma akwe Eas
and Ma akwe Wes . In he second s age, h ee illages we e andomly chosen om each sub-loca ion. In he inal s age,
households we e andomly selec ed, and om each household, eligible you h we e iden i ied. This ensu ed ha he sample
included bo h emo e and accessible communi ies.
A o al o 300 young people pa icipa ed in he su ey, de e mined using Coch an’s o mula adjus ed o he you h popula ion in
he s udy a ea. Fo he quali a i e componen , six ocus g oup discussions (FGDs) we e conduc ed wi h you h ( h ee in each sub-
coun y), and en key in o man in e iews (KIIs) we e held wi h communi y elde s, eache s, local adminis a o s, and women’s
igh s ad oca es.
Resea ch Ins umen s
1. You h Ma iage Righ s Awa eness Tes (YMRAT) – a s uc u ed ool consis ing o mul iple-choice and open-ended ques ions
o assess knowledge o s a u o y ma iage igh s, cus oma y p ac ices, and legal p o ec ions.
2. Focus G oup Discussion (FGD) Guide – used o explo e ba ie s o igh s awa eness and communi y-d i en s a egies o
imp o emen .
3. Key In o man In e iew (KII) Schedule – designed o cap u e expe and cul u al pe spec i es on s eng hening awa eness o
ma iage igh s.
The ins umen s we e de eloped a e a e iew o he Kenya Ma iage Ac (2014), he Cons i u ion (2010), coun y epo s, and
ele an esea ch s udies. Con en alidi y was es ablished h ough expe e iew by specialis s in educa ion, law, and sociology.
Reliabili y o he Ins umen
To ensu e eliabili y, he YMRAT was pilo ed wi h 30 young people om ou side he main s udy sample. A es – e es me hod
wi h a wo-week in e al was used. The co ela ion coe icien ob ained was 0.82, con i ming consis ency o he ins umen .
Da a Collec ion P ocedu e
Resea ch clea ance was ob ained om he Na ional Commission o Science, Technology and Inno a ion (NACOSTI) and
app o al was sough om coun y au ho i ies. Resea ch assis an s luen in he Ma akwe dialec s we e ec ui ed and ained.
In o med consen was secu ed om all esponden s. The su ey was adminis e ed in schools, chu ches, and communi y halls. Fo
esponden s wi h low li e acy, o al adminis a ion was p o ided by ained assis an s using neu al ansla ions. FGDs and KIIs
we e conduc ed in sa e, neu al communi y enues.
Da a Analysis
Quan i a i e da a we e coded and analyzed using desc ip i e s a is ics only ( equencies, pe cen ages, means, and s anda d
de ia ions) in SPSS e sion 26 o summa ize he le el o awa eness o ma iage igh s.
Quali a i e da a om FGDs and KIIs we e ansc ibed, ansla ed, and analyzed hema ically using NVi o so wa e. Themes we e
o ganized a ound he wo guiding esea ch ques ions: ba ie s o awa eness and s a egies o imp o emen . Findings om bo h
s ands we e iangula ed o ensu e alidi y and dep h.
E hical Conside a ions
The s udy upheld s ic e hical s anda ds. Pa icipa ion was olun a y, wi h in o med consen ob ained om all esponden s.
Anonymi y was main ained using codes ins ead o names, and con iden iali y o esponses was assu ed. Sensi i e issues such as
emale geni al cu ing we e handled wi h cul u al sensi i i y and espec . The s udy ensu ed ha no pa icipan was subjec ed o
ha m, s igma, o idicule as a esul o hei in ol emen .
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1: Sample cha ac e is ics (su ey; n = 300)
Va iable
Ca ego y
%
Gende
Male
144
48.0
Female
156
52.0
Age g oup
18–24
174
58.0
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264 Volume 02 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 Co esponding Au ho : D . Cha les Kipchumba Kisigo , Phd
25–35
126
42.0
Educa ion
No o mal / p ima y incomple e
54
18.0
Comple ed p ima y
84
28.0
Seconda y
120
40.0
Pos -seconda y / e ia y
42
14.0
Residence
Li elong esiden (in sub-coun y)
213
71.0
E e li ed ou side o wo k/s udy
87
29.0
Sou ce: Resea ch Da a, 2025
The desc ip i e esul s p esen ed in Table 1 p o ide c i ical insigh s in o he socio-demog aphic p o ile o young Ma akwe people
who pa icipa ed in he su ey (n = 300). The sample comp ised sligh ly mo e emales (52.0%) han males (48.0%), sugges ing a
balanced gende ep esen a ion ha enables gende -sensi i e in e p e a ion o indings on ma iage igh s awa eness. A majo i y
o esponden s we e aged 18–24 yea s (58.0%), e lec ing a you h ul coho a he o ma i e s age o li e decisions conce ning
ela ionships, ma iage, and amily. Educa ional a ainmen a ied conside ably, wi h he la ges segmen ha ing eached
seconda y school (40.0%), ollowed by hose who comple ed p ima y school (28.0%), while a no able mino i y had pos -
seconda y/ e ia y educa ion (14.0%). The p esence o 18.0% wi h no o incomple e p ima y educa ion is pa icula ly signi ican ,
as limi ed schooling o en cons ains legal li e acy and comp ehension o s a u o y ma iage igh s. Residence pa e ns e ealed
ha 71.0% o pa icipan s we e li elong esiden s wi hin he sub-coun y, wi h only 29.0% ha ing e e li ed ou side o wo k o
s udy, indica ing ha exposu e o di e se social and legal en i onmen s beyond he communi y emains ela i ely limi ed.
Collec i ely, hese cha ac e is ics highligh ha he unde s anding o ma iage igh s among young Ma akwe people is likely
shaped by in e sec ing ac o s o age, educa ion, and es ic ed ex e nal exposu e. The ela i ely you h ul demog aphic and une en
educa ional le els sugges bo h oppo uni ies and challenges, while seconda y and e ia y-educa ed you h may be mo e ecep i e
o ci ic educa ion on s a u o y ma iage igh s, li elong esiden s wi h minimal schooling may emain mo e ancho ed in cus oma y
in e p e a ions.
You h Ma iage Righ s Awa eness Tes (YMRAT)
The You h Ma iage Righ s Awa eness Tes (YMRAT) used in his s udy comp ises 20 i ems co e ing (a) s a u o y p o isions
(minimum age, egis a ion, legal ed ess), (b) cus oma y p ac ice s. law, and (c) p ac ical p ocedu es ( egis a ion s eps,
documen a ion, seeking help).
Table 2: YMRAT summa y (n = 300)
Indica o
Value
Maximum possible sco e
20
Mean sco e (SD)
12.0 (± 3.0)
Equi alen pe cen age
60.0%
Range (min–max)
4 – 19
Sco e ca ego ies
N
≤ 10 (≤ 50%) — Insu icien unde s anding
120
11–14 (51–74%) — Mode a e unde s anding
132
≥ 15 (≥ 75%) — S ong unde s anding
48
Sou ce: Resea ch Da a, 2025
The indings in Table 2 indica e ha young Ma akwe people demons a e only a mode a e unde s anding o ma iage igh s, as
shown by he mean sco e o 12.0 ou o 20 (60.0%). The s anda d de ia ion o 3.0 highligh s no able a ia ion in le els o
comp ehension, while he wide sco e ange o 4 o 19 unde sco es he dispa i ies, wi h some esponden s showing nea -comple e
unde s anding and o he s displaying e y limi ed awa eness. The ca ego ical dis ibu ion u he illus a es hese gaps, 40.0% (n =
120) o esponden s exhibi ed insu icien unde s anding (≤ 50%), 44.0% (n = 132) displayed mode a e unde s anding (51–74%),
and only 16.0% (n = 48) a ained s ong unde s anding (≥ 75%). This skewed dis ibu ion sugges s ha mos young people all
wi hin insu icien and pa ial awa eness ca ego ies, wi h a mino i y achie ing high comp ehension. Such une en pa e ns o
knowledge a e consis en wi h indings by Wamalwa (2025), who obse ed ha you h in Kenya o en exhibi limi ed awa eness o
s a u o y igh s, lea ing cul u al no ms as he dominan e e ence poin in unde s anding ma i al issues.
Topic-le el knowledge p ocedu al s. no ma i e i ems
To design in e en ions ha mo e you h om mode a e → s ong unde s anding, i is essen ial o disagg ega e which opics a e
unde s ood and which a e weak.
Imp o ing Young Ma akwe Peoples' Unde s anding o Ma iage Righ s
265 Volume 02 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 Co esponding Au ho : D . Cha les Kipchumba Kisigo , Phd
Table 3: Topic-wise pe o mance ( esponden s answe ing ≥2/3 o i ems in opic co ec ly; n= 300)
Topic
(co ec )
%
Consen & p o ec ions agains o ced ma iage (no ma i e)
195
65.0
Minimum legal ma iage age (s a u o y = 18 y s)
174
58.0
Ma iage egis a ion & bene i s o egis a ion
156
52.0
Whe e o seek legal ed ess (chie s, legal aid, cou s)
90
30.0
Righ s & p ocedu es in di o ce (main enance, cus ody)
135
45.0
Inhe i ance & p ope y igh s o ma ied women
120
40.0
Sou ce: Resea ch Da a, 2025
The esul s in Table 3 e eal ha no ma i e awa eness among young Ma akwe people, pa icula ly conce ning consen and
p o ec ions agains o ced ma iage, is ela i ely s ong, wi h 65.0% o esponden s answe ing a leas wo- hi ds o he i ems in
his opic co ec ly. This sugges s ha he majo i y o you h ecognize he impo ance o consen and a e awa e o p ohibi ions
agains o ced ma iage. Such heigh ened awa eness can be a ibu ed o b oade na ional campaigns and school-based
sensi iza ion on child p o ec ion and gende -based iolence, which o en highligh consen as a c i ical p inciple. Howe e , while
hese igu es e lec encou aging p og ess in no ma i e domains, hey also sugges ha nea ly one- hi d o esponden s emain
unce ain, which may lea e oom o misin e p e a ion o consen wi hin cul u al con ex s. Simila ends we e epo ed by
Aus ian e al. (2024), who ound ha Kenyan you h o en display s onge knowledge o no ma i e issues such as consen
compa ed o s a u o y de ails, due o he isibili y o ad ocacy campaigns.
S a u o y knowledge, by con as , appea s mo e mode a e. Jus o e hal o he esponden s unde s ood he legal minimum age o
ma iage (58.0%) and he equi emen s and bene i s o egis a ion (52.0%). This shows ha while a majo i y a e awa e o
s a u o y p o isions, signi ican gaps emain, lea ing nea ly hal o he you h ulne able o misin o ma ion o exclusion om he
p o ec ions ha o mal ma iage egis a ion a o ds. The esul s u he sugges ha al hough awa eness o he legal age
equi emen has imp o ed compa ed o ea lie baselines, i is no comp ehensi e enough o gua an ee compliance o e ec i e
en o cemen in p ac ice. These indings highligh a disc epancy whe e s a u o y ules a e pa ially in e nalized bu no
uni e sally unde s ood. A s udy by Tanui (2024), co obo a es his pa e n, showing ha knowledge o s a u o y ma iage laws in
u al Kenya o en emains inconsis en , wi h many young people in o med in p inciple bu lacking de ailed comp ehension o
egis a ion p ocesses and hei implica ions.
The weakes ou comes a e obse ed in p ocedu al knowledge, whe e ewe esponden s demons a ed adequa e unde s anding.
Only 30.0% knew whe e o seek legal ed ess, while 45.0% we e amilia wi h igh s and p ocedu es in di o ce and 40.0% wi h
inhe i ance and p ope y igh s o ma ied women. These esul s indica e ha while many young Ma akwe people can iden i y
no ma i e p inciples, hey lack he p ocedu al li e acy needed o ope a ionalize hese igh s in p ac ice. This gap explains why
mode a e no ma i e knowledge does no ansla e in o s ong legal p o ec ion, since awa eness o ―wha is igh ‖ is unde mined
by unce ain y abou ―how o ac ‖ when igh s a e iola ed. The imbalance be ween no ma i e and p ocedu al awa eness c ea es
ba ie s o e ec i e u iliza ion o he law. A ela ed s udy by Mohamud e al. (2021) ound ha limi ed p ocedu al knowledge
among Kenyan you h o en leads o unde u iliza ion o a ailable legal aid mechanisms, he eby weakening he p o ec i e powe o
s a u o y amewo ks e en when no ma i e awa eness exis s.
In o ma ion channels — who in o ms you h
Table 4: Repo ed sou ces o ma iage- igh s in o ma ion (mul iple esponses allowed; n = 300)
Sou ce
F
%
Family / Elde s
162
54.0
School ( o mal lessons)
105
35.0
Radio / Local media
75
25.0
Pee g oups / You h clubs
66
22.0
NGOs / Legal clinics / Pa alegals
36
12.0
Religious leade s
30
10.0
In e ne / Social media
27
9.0
Sou ce: Resea ch Da a, 2025
The indings in Table 4 demons a e ha amily and elde s emain he dominan sou ce o ma iage- igh s in o ma ion o young
Ma akwe people, epo ed by 54.0% o esponden s. This indica es ha in e gene a ional ans e o knowledge con inues o
shape you h unde s anding, wi h elde s occupying a cen al ole in de ining how ma iage igh s a e in e p e ed and p ac iced.
While his channel ensu es con inui y o cul u al alues, i also p esen s he isk o ein o cing cus oma y in e p e a ions ha may
no always align wi h s a u o y p o isions. The hea y eliance on elde s sugges s ha ma iage igh s educa ion mus conside he
Imp o ing Young Ma akwe Peoples' Unde s anding o Ma iage Righ s
266 Volume 02 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 Co esponding Au ho : D . Cha les Kipchumba Kisigo , Phd
in luence o amily s uc u es, as hey emain ga ekeepe s o knowledge. This pa e n esona es wi h indings Human Righ s
Wa ch (2020), who no ed ha in many Kenyan u al con ex s, amily and kinship ne wo ks cons i u e he mos us ed sou ce o
in o ma ion o you h on ma i al ma e s, o en shaping pe cep ions mo e s ongly han o mal educa ion.
Schools ep esen he second mos signi ican in o ma ion channel, wi h 35.0% o esponden s ci ing o mal lessons as a sou ce o
ma iage- igh s knowledge. This esul unde sco es he impo ance o educa ional ins i u ions as a s uc u ed pla o m o
dissemina ing s a u o y and no ma i e knowledge. Compa ed o amily-based in o ma ion, which is o en oo ed in adi ion,
schools p o ide an a enue o exposu e o legal and igh s-based amewo ks. The each o schools is pa icula ly no able gi en
ha o e a hi d o you h epo ed his as a sou ce, highligh ing he po en ial o in eg a ing ma iage- igh s con en wi hin ci ic
and li e-skills cu icula. This inding aligns wi h a s udy by Julius (2025), which obse ed ha school-based p og ams
signi ican ly imp o ed s uden s’ awa eness o gende and legal igh s, showing he po en ial o o mal educa ion as a
ans o ma i e channel o igh s li e acy.
The emaining channels, hough less dominan , play complemen a y oles. Radio and local media eached 25.0% o esponden s,
while pee g oups and you h clubs in o med 22.0%, and NGOs, eligious leade s, and social media each accoun ed o less han
15.0%. These indings sugges ha seconda y in o ma ion channels ha e a suppo i e ye ampli ying e ec , pa icula ly by
eaching you h ou side he class oom o ein o cing messages deli e ed in schools and amilies. Fo example, adio b oadcas s
and pee ne wo ks can e ec i ely ansmi in o ma ion in local languages and cul u ally esonan o ma s, e en i hei o e all
each is smalle . Such mul iplici y o sou ces demons a es ha you h do no ely exclusi ely on one channel bu cons uc
knowledge om o e lapping a enues o in luence. These obse a ions a e consis en wi h Adeyeye (2024), who ound ha media,
you h g oups, and communi y o ganiza ions se e as i al supplemen a y pla o ms ha enhance o mal lea ning by
con ex ualizing igh s educa ion wi hin amilia social se ings.
Ba ie s o unde s anding ma iage igh s
Cul u al No ms and Ri es
FGD, young woman, 18:
When ini ia ion i es a e comple ed, amilies expec ma iage immedia ely. Elde s ein o ce he belie ha his ma ks eadiness,
lea ing li le oom o ques ion o delay. Such cul u al p ac ices no malize ea ly ma iage, making legal igh s seem seconda y o
i ele an .
Limi ed Fo mal Righ s Educa ion
KII, seconda y school eache :
In schools, he emphasis is on amily alues a he han he legal s eps o o malize a ma iage. Young people a ely lea n abou
egis a ion p ocedu es o equi ed documen s, which c ea es a majo gap in awa eness o o mal igh s.
Gende ed Silence and Res ic ed Voice
FGD, young woman, 22:
Gi ls who ask abou opics like di o ce a e silenced. Such ques ions a e conside ed dis espec ul and b ing shame. This
discou ages gi ls om oicing conce ns abou hei ma i al igh s, u he limi ing hei access o in o ma ion
Low Li e acy and Language Ba ie s
FGD, young man, 25:
Mos in o ma ion ma e ials on ma iage igh s a e in English o Swahili, ye many amilies p ima ily speak Ma akwe . This
language gap makes legal p ocesses inaccessible, especially o pa en s and u al you h wi h low li e acy.
P ac ical Access Ba ie s
KII, pa alegal:
Regis e ing a ma iage o en equi es long a el o sub-coun y o ices. E en hen, he p ocess may be unsuccess ul, o cing
amilies o e u n mul iple imes. The high cos s and ime in ol ed discou age o mal egis a ion.
Dis us o Fo mal Jus ice
KII, communi y elde :
Fo mal jus ice sys ems a e o en seen as dis an and designed o u ban popula ions. Many people p e e o esol e dispu es
h ough elde s a he han cou s. As a esul , eliance on cus oma y sys ems unde mines engagemen wi h o mal legal
p o ec ions.
The indings show ha cul u al i es o passage s ongly shape pe cep ions o ma iage eadiness. Fo ins ance, he belie ha
comple ion o ini ia ion ma ks immedia e eligibili y o ma iage c ea es p essu e o con o m, lea ing li le space o ques ion
s a u o y p o isions such as minimum ma iage age. This cul u al no maliza ion o ea ly ma iage makes legal amewo ks appea
seconda y o e en i ele an o young people’s li ed eali ies. Such cul u al ein o cemen con ibu es o he pe sis ence o
Imp o ing Young Ma akwe Peoples' Unde s anding o Ma iage Righ s
267 Volume 02 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 Co esponding Au ho : D . Cha les Kipchumba Kisigo , Phd
p ac ices ha con lic wi h legal p o ec ions. This ou come e lec s obse a ions by Fi ia e al. (2024), who documen ed ha
ini ia ion ce emonies in pas o alis communi ies o en accele a e ma iage expec a ions, o e shadowing s a u o y age
equi emen s.
A second ba ie lies in he absence o comp ehensi e o mal educa ion on ma iage igh s. Teache s emphasized ha school
lessons o en p io i ize amily alues and mo al eachings while neglec ing he p ocedu al aspec s o ma iage egis a ion and
ela ed documen a ion. As a esul , many you h lack p ac ical awa eness o how o o malize ma iages legally. This educa ional
gap lea es hem dependen on cul u al ansmission, which o en excludes s a u o y de ails. These esul s a e consis en wi h
Ng’e ich (2024), who ound ha ci ic educa ion on ma iage igh s in Kenyan schools is limi ed, wi h o mal p ocedu es a ely
co e ed in he cu iculum.
The indings u he highligh how gende ed social expec a ions silence young women when hey a emp o inqui e abou
sensi i e issues such as di o ce o ma i al igh s. Labelling such ques ions as dis espec ul discou ages gi ls om seeking
in o ma ion, e ec i ely es ic ing hei oice and ein o cing knowledge gaps. This silence e lec s b oade gende ed powe
dynamics in which access o legal awa eness is no equally dis ibu ed. Such ba ie s educe he likelihood ha gi ls will challenge
ha m ul p ac ices o claim hei igh s. Compa able indings we e epo ed by Me oka-Mu ua (2024), who showed ha pa ia chal
no ms in Kenyan u al communi ies s igma ize young women who aise ques ions abou ma iage o di o ce, he eby cu ailing
hei knowledge o legal p o ec ions.
Ano he signi ican obs acle is he misma ch be ween he language o legal ma e ials and he linguis ic eali ies o local
communi ies. The eliance on English and Swahili o o icial documen s excludes many Ma akwe amilies, pa icula ly in u al
se ings whe e local dialec s domina e and li e acy le els a e lowe . This misma ch no only limi s access o in o ma ion bu also
ein o ces exclusion om o mal p ocesses. Consequen ly, many you h and pa en s a e unable o engage meaning ully wi h
ma iage igh s. These esul s a e suppo ed by Njaga and Co. Ad oca es (2024), who no ed ha language ba ie s signi ican ly
impede access o jus ice in u al Kenya, whe e legal in o ma ion is o en una ailable in indigenous languages.
The p ac ical challenges o accessing legal ma iage egis a ion u he hinde awa eness and compliance. Responden s no ed ha
long a el dis ances o sub-coun y o ices, epea ed bu eauc a ic ailu es, and he inancial cos s o mul iple isi s discou age
o maliza ion. Such obs acles make he s a u o y amewo k appea inaccessible and bu densome, pa icula ly o u al households
wi h limi ed esou ces. These indings echo conclusions by Njaga & Co. Ad oca es (2024), who highligh ed how weak
ins i u ional e iciency and hidden cos s su ounding egis a ion p ocedu es discou age compliance, lea ing many unions in
p olonged in o mal s a us despi e exis ing legal amewo ks.
Finally, widesp ead dis us o o mal jus ice sys ems compounds hese challenges. Communi y membe s pe cei e cou s and
legal p ocesses as u ban-cen e ed, o eign, and disconnec ed om local eali ies. Consequen ly, p e e ence is gi en o dispu e
esolu ion h ough elde s, ein o cing eliance on cus oma y p ac ices o e s a u o y p o ec ions. This dis us unde mines e o s
o ex end o mal legal awa eness and weakens engagemen wi h na ional legal sys ems. Simila dynamics we e desc ibed by
Me oka-Mu ua (2024), who emphasized ha s a u o y amily law emains iewed as alien in u al con ex s, wi h cul u al o ums
such as elde s’ councils enjoying g ea e legi imacy and accessibili y, making hem he dominan a enue o ma i al con lic
esolu ion.
Exis ing enable s and sou ces o misin o ma ion Pa ial Enable s
Key In o man In e iew, NGO s a :
When he legal clinic came wo mon hs ago, many gi ls asked abou egis a ion, and i became clea ha he e we e hings hey
had ne e been old be o e. The clinic p o ided hem wi h in o ma ion ha was no usually a ailable in hei schools o
communi ies, and o he i s ime hey we e able o unde s and ha legal p ocesses exis beyond wha adi ion dic a es. This
exposu e helped hem ecognize he gaps in hei knowledge and ga e hem con idence o ask mo e ques ions abou ma iage igh s
and legal p o ec ions ha hey had p e iously assumed did no apply o hem.
Misin o ma ion ia Elde s
Focus G oup Discussion, young man, 20:
An elde old me ha b idep ice se les e e y hing and ha you don’ need o egis e , and his belie is aken as unques ionable
u h by many young men and women. Because elde s ca y g ea au ho i y, hei wo ds a e o en accep ed wi hou challenge, and
his discou ages people om seeking cla i ica ion abou o mal equi emen s. The weigh o adi ion makes he idea o b idep ice
seem inal, and so he no ion o egis a ion is dismissed, ein o cing a cycle whe e misin o ma ion con inues o domina e wha
young people unde s and abou ma iage legali y.
Hea say
Focus G oup Discussion, young woman, 24:
People say ha we ha e always done i his way, and once ha s a emen is made i immedia ely ends any discussion o deba e
abou he law. The epe i ion o such ph ases ac s as a ba ie , shu ing down cu iosi y and silencing oices ha migh wan o ask
Imp o ing Young Ma akwe Peoples' Unde s anding o Ma iage Righ s
268 Volume 02 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 Co esponding Au ho : D . Cha les Kipchumba Kisigo , Phd
o cla i ica ion abou legal p ocedu es. This cons an ein o cemen o cus om o e law c ea es an en i onmen whe e many
young people g ow up belie ing ha adi ion alone de ines ma iage, lea ing li le oom o hem o seek o us o mal legal
p ocesses.
The indings e eal ha a ge ed in e en ions, such as isi s om legal clinics, can se e as c ucial enable s o ma iage- igh s
knowledge. NGO-led sessions in oduced many young gi ls o egis a ion p ocedu es and legal p o ec ions p e iously unknown,
allowing ecogni ion o knowledge gaps and building con idence o seek u he cla i ica ion. S uc u ed exposu e o o mal legal
p ocesses can dis up en enched assump ions shaped by adi ion, os e ing awa eness and empowe men . Simila ou comes we e
epo ed by Aus ian e al. (2024), who ound ha you h engagemen wi h communi y-based educa ional and legal p og ams in
pas o alis con ex s subs an ially enhanced unde s anding o s a u o y ma iage igh s, pa icula ly among gi ls who had
p e iously elied on in o mal sou ces o in o ma ion.
Despi e hese gains, elde s emain in luen ial condui s o misin o ma ion. Asse ions such as b idep ice ―se ling e e y hing‖ a e
o en ea ed as unques ionable due o cul u al au ho i y, discou aging inqui y in o o mal legal equi emen s and ma ginalizing
s a u o y p o ec ions. The au ho i a i e ole o elde s has been no ed by Aku ugu, De y, & Domanban (2022), who highligh ed
ha in a ious A ican se ings, elde -media ed guidance equen ly o e ides s a u o y p o isions, pe pe ua ing cycles o
misin o ma ion and cons aining you h engagemen wi h o mal legal amewo ks.
Fu he mo e, hea say and communi y na a i es ein o ce misconcep ions abou ma iage legali y. Exp essions like ―we ha e
always done i his way‖ ac as con e sa ion-s oppe s, silencing ques ions and es ic ing explo a ion o legal amewo ks.
Pe sis en cul u al na a i es main ain cus oma y no ms as he de aul e e ence, limi ing c i ical engagemen and us in o mal
p ocesses. Adeyeye (2024) obse ed ha en enched indigenous p ac ices ac oss sub- Saha an communi ies o en inhibi you h
om accessing o us ing s a u o y in o ma ion, sus aining he dominance o cus oma y no ms in shaping unde s anding o
ma i al igh s.
Communi y-G ounded S a egies o Imp o e Unde s anding Communi y Dialogues
Focus g oup / key in o man 1 (chie ):
When elde s, chie s, and eligious leade s come oge he in dialogues wi h lawye s o o he elde s, he impo ance o egis a ion
and legal p ocesses becomes clea . Once espec ed igu es a i m ha egis a ion is he co ec and accep able pa h, he message
quickly sp eads among communi y membe s, c ea ing awa eness and encou aging compliance wi h he law.
School-Based P ac ical Modules
Focus g oup / key in o man 2 ( eache ):
I s uden s a e gi en mock egis a ion o ms and engage in ole-playing ac i i ies, hey ge a chance o p ac ice he p ocess in a
sa e en i onmen . These hands-on modules gi e hem p ac ical knowledge and con idence, making su e hey clea ly unde s and
how o egis e when he ime comes and ensu ing hey can apply his lea ning in hei adul li es.
Pee Educa o / You h Ambassado P og ams
Focus g oup 3 (young man, 23):
We end o belie e wha ou pee s ell us mo e han adul s, and when some you h a e ained as ambassado s, hey can explain
legal igh s and egis a ion p ocedu es in a language and s yle ha we ela e o. Hea ing i om ano he young pe son makes i
easie o unde s and and mo i a es us o ac .
Mobile Legal Clinics & Regis a ion D i es
Focus g oup 4 (young woman, 21):
I egis a s and legal ad iso s a e b ough o he communi y du ing ma ke days, many people will u n up. This kind o mobile
clinic emo es he a el ba ie and he cos s o going a , making i easy o e e yone, e en hose li ing a away o wi hou
money, o ge egis e ed and access legal se ices.
Local Radio S o y elling (Ma akwe Language)
Focus g oup / key in o man 5 ( adio p oduce ):
A sho adio d ama in he Ma akwe language ha shows a woman egis e ing he ma iage and secu ing he igh s can each a
e y wide audience. People lis en and see hemsel es in hese s o ies, and i ein o ces he message in a way ha is bo h cul u ally
amilia and con incing.
Pa alegal T aining & Women’s G oup S eng hening
Focus g oup / key in o man 6 (women’s g oup leade ):
When local pa alegals a e ained and women’s g oups a e made s onge , hey p o ide sa e and con iden ial ad ice. Fo hose
who a e a aid o speak openly, hese g oups and pa alegals become a us ed space whe e people can ge guidance and suppo on
egis a ion and legal igh s wi hou ea o exposu e.
