Muslims living in Nakuru’s Bondeni area have raised alarm over an increase in divorce cases among young couples attributed to extra-marital affairs. The trend is a major cause of breaking marriages and families with cases of physical injuries and damage to properties in revenge attacks reported. Community elders, stakeholders and opinion leaders have raised the alarm and are working on ways of finding possible solutions of discouraging this vice. If not dealt with, they have warned, will lead to serious and unwanted consequences that may end up destroying families and the image of the Muslim community.
According to Fadhili Msuri, Kenya Muslim Youth Alliance (KMYA) South Rift Regional Coordinator, what is happening is due to idleness and lack of employment for the youth.
“Young people need to use the time they spend at maskani to talk about serious issues and find solutions to their problems,” he said. There is need to have forums and peer education session that can be used to enable young couples in the area learn more on several issues and how they can tackle them, added Fadhili. Hashdaline Juma, a madrassa teacher, who works with a group of young people seeking solutions to problems says the solution to infidelity lies in prayers. “This is one of the ways of sharpening their faith,” he says. Meanwhile, stakeholders in the HIV/AIDS sector in Nakuru have been meeting to plan for this year’s Nakuru ASK show that will be held in July this year. The event according to Mr. Givonce Oyee, is to ensure that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are able to exhibit to their services and initiatives towards the community.
