Research Article
Invisible Consent: Unpacking Agency and Coercion in Girl Child Marriage in Marsabit County, Kenya
Kirleen Carolyne Athiambo*
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
63-73
Received:
11 May 2026
Accepted:
25 May 2026
Published:
10 June 2026
Abstract: In communities where a girl's marriage is arranged before she can speak for herself, consent does not disappear it is simply made invisible. This study interrogates the mechanisms of agency and coercion that shape girl child marriage decisions in Korr-Ngurnit Ward, Marsabit County, Kenya, a predominantly pastoralist setting where the practice remains deeply entrenched. Drawing on a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, the study analyzed data from 296 household surveys, nine focus group discussions, and 16 key informant interviews with Rendille and Samburu community members. Quantitative findings revealed that 51% of respondents were married before the age of 18 years, and 65.5% reported that their marriages occurred without their consent. Logistic regression showed that lack of consent increased the odds of girl child marriage by 4.27 times (OR = 4.27, p < 0.001). Decision-making authority rested almost exclusively with community elders (42.9%) and fathers (30.7%), effectively institutionalizing the exclusion of girls from choices about their own futures. Qualitative narratives illuminated how coercion operates not through overt force alone, but through social stigma, fear of community gossip, patriarchal honour systems, dowry economies, and culturally sanctioned rites such as female genital mutilation and beading forces that constrain girls' agency long before any marriage negotiation begins. Grounded in Social Norms Theory and Gender and Power Theory, the study argues that consent in this context is not simply withheld but structurally pre-empted. Addressing girl child marriage in pastoralist Kenya therefore demands more than legal enforcement it requires dismantling the normative architecture that renders girls' voices inaudible before they are ever heard. Implications for policy and community-level programming are discussed.
Abstract: In communities where a girl's marriage is arranged before she can speak for herself, consent does not disappear it is simply made invisible. This study interrogates the mechanisms of agency and coercion that shape girl child marriage decisions in Korr-Ngurnit Ward, Marsabit County, Kenya, a predominantly pastoralist setting where the practice remai...
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Research Article
Enhancing Livelihoods and Food Security Among South Sudanese Refugees and Host Communities at White Nile State, Sudan
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
74-83
Received:
5 May 2026
Accepted:
3 June 2026
Published:
17 July 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.rd.20260702.12
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Abstract: The majority of South Sudanese refugees (SSR) have settled in refugee camps in White Nile State, Sudan. Many newly arrived refugees reached the Sudanese border in conditions of exhaustion, nutritional vulnerability, and poor health after escaping violence and deprivation. A sample of 447 households was selected from both SSR and HC populations, covering five refugee camps and four host community villages. Data were collected through structured household questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Descriptive analysis was employed to evaluate perceptions of food adequacy, meal frequency, coping strategies, and food consumption. The findings revealed that 44.7% of SSR respondents perceived that available food was insufficient to sustain their livelihoods, while 55.3% considered it sufficient. A substantial proportion of households (68.7%) reported consuming less preferred foods one to two times per week as a coping mechanism against food shortages. In addition, 47.4% of households did not consume regular meals per day, while 36.2% consumed two meals. Seven major food consumption groups were identified across refugee camps and host communities. Legumes, kissra, dried okra, and dried fish were consumed by 87% of respondents. Carbohydrate-rich foods such as sorghum-based products, bread, rice, and cereals formed the daily staple diet for 57% of surveyed refugees. Plant-based proteins were consumed one to two times weekly by 33% of respondents, while 47.7% consumed animal protein at the same frequency. Sugar and sugar products were consumed daily by 45.8% of the respondents. The study recommends disseminating knowledge and information through awareness initiatives led by the government and various food-related organizations. Furthermore, it suggests providing training for South Sudanese refugees (SSR) and host communities (HC) in income-generating activities, home gardening, vocational skills, and other livelihood strategy.
Abstract: The majority of South Sudanese refugees (SSR) have settled in refugee camps in White Nile State, Sudan. Many newly arrived refugees reached the Sudanese border in conditions of exhaustion, nutritional vulnerability, and poor health after escaping violence and deprivation. A sample of 447 households was selected from both SSR and HC populations, cov...
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El Tighani Mirghani Elamin
