- Narok leaders have urged parents to abandon female genital mutilation and early marriages to safeguard girls’ education and future opportunities.
- County Gender Director Agnes Ngeno has highlighted progress, noting that FGM prevalence has reduced from 78 per cent to 51 per cent due to awareness campaigns and community dialogue.
- Stakeholders and students have echoed the call, stressing that continued sensitisation and political will have been essential in driving change and protecting girls’ rights.
Parents in Narok County have been urged to abandon female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriages to give girls the opportunity to complete their education and realise their full potential.
Speaking during a community engagement in Naikara, the County Gender Director, Agnes Ngeno, emphasised the need to protect girls from harmful cultural practices.
“Every girl deserves the opportunity to grow, learn and achieve her dreams without the threat of female genital mutilation or early marriage,” Ngeno said, stressing that education must take precedence over traditions that deny girls their future.
She challenged politicians to use their campaign platforms to educate communities on the dangers of FGM instead of focusing solely on votes. “As leaders move around asking for votes, they should also remind parents that FGM is harmful and illegal. They have a key role in changing attitudes within our communities,” she added.
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Ngeno highlighted progress made through dialogue with elders from the Maa community, noting that commitments reached last year had encouraged families to discourage the continuation of FGM. She revealed that prevalence rates in Narok had dropped from 78 per cent to 51 per cent, attributing the decline to sustained awareness campaigns. “This shows that awareness campaigns are working, but we cannot stop now. Every parent should choose education over harmful traditions,” she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by student Charity Muunka, who appealed to parents to embrace modern values and prioritise education. “We ask our parents to support girls through education and stop practices that deny them their future,” she said.
Stakeholders agreed that while progress has been made, continued community sensitisation and political will are essential to eliminate FGM and early marriages. They urged parents, leaders and the wider community to unite in safeguarding the rights of girls and ensuring they have equal opportunities to pursue education and achieve their dreams.
By Kimutai Langat
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