About 650 million girls worldwide were married before age 18. That is about 17% of the world’s female population, according to UNICEF. These marriages often keep girls from completing their education and can lead to devastating psychological and physical consequences
The Kenyan government promised jobs for locals and compensation for landowners along the route of its new Chinese-built train, the Madaraka Express. But with Chinese builders blasting and bulldozing their way forward, some Kenyans say they are still waiting. Others say the railway construction has damaged their homes and ruined their views — making their lives worse. Three-part VOA series looks at what happened to Kenyans along the route