SAMBURU – In an effort to combat harmful cultural practices, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and child marriage, leaders in Samburu County have called on parents to ensure their daughters remain in school. The appeal was made during a community event in Muruankai village, Samburu North Sub County, aimed at highlighting the importance of girls’ education as a protective measure against such practices.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Samburu County Gender Director in the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, harmful cultural traditions such as FGM, child marriages, and beading persist in some areas of the county. Wanjohi emphasized the critical role of community awareness and education in reducing the prevalence of FGM, which currently stands at 76 percent in the region. “Enrolling and retaining girls in schools not only protects them from these cultural vices but also demonstrates a commitment to reducing the FGM prevalence rate,” Wanjohi stated.
During the event, which also celebrated International Women’s Day 2024 under the theme “Count her in. Invest in her. Accelerate progress,” Beverlyne Lelelit, the spouse of the Samburu governor, highlighted Muruankai village’s challenges with FGM and teenage pregnancy. She called on women to advise teenage girls against premarital sex and to become advocates against teenage pregnancy.
Lelelit’s call to action is supported by findings from the Kenya 2022 Health Demographic Health Survey, which identified Samburu County as having one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in the country. She urged women to sensitize their daughters, especially those in remote parts of the county, about the risks and consequences of early sexual activity and pregnancy.
The event in Muruankai village was part of ongoing efforts in Samburu County to educate the community and promote gender equality through various initiatives, including the 2021 Kisima declaration, which emphasizes male engagement and the use of media platforms to raise awareness.