Members of the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus have called on Maasai women in Narok County to reject harmful cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early marriage, and teenage pregnancy and embrace education as a path to empowerment.
The legislators made the remarks at Suswa Girls’ Secondary School during a women’s empowerment forum dubbed “Wezesha Mama, Inua Jamii” (Empower a Woman, Uplift the Community), hosted by Narok Woman Representative Rebecca Tonkei. The event drew thousands of women from across the county.
Leading the team was Caucus Chairperson and Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau, who stressed that women should let go of retrogressive traditions and empower women through education.
“This county is blessed because you have a role model, Cabinet Secretary for Defence Soipan Tuya, who was born and raised here. She beat all odds, became a lawyer, and now serves in the Cabinet,” said Ms Gitau. “That is the power of education.”
Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina also urged women to protect their children from all forms of harm, sharing her own experience of growing up in a humble background.
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“I was not brought up in a rich family. My parents struggled to provide even the basics, food, clothes, education, but they shielded me from harm,” she said. “Now, I’ve gone back, built them a house, and uplifted their lives.”
Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Muratha encouraged women to take responsibility for their families by ensuring children go to school.
“Single mothers and widows should not bury their heads in the sand,” she said. “Despite your condition, take your children to school and pay what you can. The rest will be handled by God, through bursaries or well-wishers.”
Muratha also reminded married women to nurture their families and play their roles actively to create stable homes and progressive communities.
Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge said FGM was once widespread but should now be left in the past.
“The world is changing. Education is more rewarding than outdated practices,” she said. “I challenge women here to be champions for their daughters’ education.”
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The forum also saw participation from other women leaders, including Leah Sankaire (Kajiado), Umulkheri Kassim (Mandera), Naomi Waqo (Marsabit), Beatrice Adagala (Vihiga), Pauline Lenguris (Samburu), Liza Chelule (Nakuru), Beatrice Kemei (Kericho), and Narok Governor’s wife, Agnes Ntutu.
In a show of support for education, Narok Woman Rep Rebecca Tonkei disbursed Sh7.744 million in bursaries to vulnerable students and donated 10 water tanks (each with a 5,000-litre capacity) and five tents (with a 100-person capacity each) to women’s groups.
The MPs also called on residents to support and pray for President William Ruto as he leads the nation’s development agenda.
The Parliamentary Women’s Caucus continues to advocate for women’s empowerment, inclusivity, and national unity, in line with the Kenya Kwanza government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
By Kimutai Langat
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