Maralal: Parents in Samburu County have been urged to enrol their daughters in school to protect them from retrogressive cultural practices such as beading, child marriages, and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Speaking at the Maralal polytechnic during a celebration to mark this year's International Day of the Girl Child, Samburu County Executive for Gender, Culture, Youth Affairs, Sports and Social Services, Evelyne Lentaano, emphasized the limitations imposed by certain cultural aspects on girls and women, particularly in leadership and decision-making roles.

According to Kenya News Agency, the International Day of the Girl-Child is observed annually on October 11th to celebrate and amplify the voices, actions, and leadership of girls worldwide. This year's theme, 'The Girl I am, The Change I Lead: Girls on The Frontlines of Crisis,' highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by girls. Lentaano pointed out the low enrolment and retention rates of girls in school, attributing this to cultural practices like beading and child marriages, as well as the perception of girls as a source of wealth through dowry payments.

Lentaano noted that the Samburu government has implemented measures to protect the girl child by passing the Gender Policy. This policy promotes gender equality by addressing harmful traditional practices and integrating gender considerations into all aspects of County development. The policy aims to provide equal opportunities and rights for all individuals, combat gender-based violence, improve access to education and economic opportunities for women and girls, and ensure their participation in decision-making processes.

Kenya Red Cross Gender-Based Violence Officer Lydia Maina echoed the importance of educating girls in the region to ensure their voices are represented at decision-making levels. Maina emphasized that the celebration aimed to embrace modern educational trends and urged the Samburu community to enrol their daughters in school, thereby shielding them from detrimental cultural practices. She highlighted the significance of empowering girls through education on reproductive health and the benefits of abstaining from early practices until they complete their education, which would enable their participation in leadership and decision-making arenas.