A Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) survivor Nancy Milanoi from Maasai has initiated the Naretu Maa Community Based Organization, further establishing Manyatta recue centers at Naretu Maa and Esonorua Community Emanyatta along the Kiserian Magadi road which spearheads this noble initiative.
According to Milanoi, she fell victim to FGM at the tender age of 12 and was coerced into marrying a 70-year-old man, as dictated by the Maasai culture.
She said that her personal experience led her to build the centers which serve as hubs for community training and offer a secure space for girls, all while preserving the rich Maasai cultural heritage.
Milanoi further noted that FGM and child marriage has persisted in the community, often driven by economic hardships.
She however said that the project aims to provide alternative sources of income, breaking the shackles of these harmful practices.
“FGM is a dark cloud that has cast a shadow over the lives of girls for too long. While it is rooted in our traditions, traditions can and must evolve,”Milanoi stated.
Additionally, she highlighted that this project not only seeks to protect and preserve Maasai cultural heritage but also uncovers the hidden treasures of local Maasai tourism, dismantles harmful cultural practices, and empowers women, who are the backbone of society.
Furthermore, Milanoi noted that the introduction of Kabaddi sport at the Manyatta centers injects a spirit of competition and camaraderie among the youth, offering them a positive outlet for their energy.
The founder of Clean Water Kenya Ken Clark, also known as a Maasai elder supported the project by donating 100 water filters to the community.
The MP of Kajiado West George Sunkuya hailed the project for its potential to generate income and empower the local community.
Additionally, the Deputy County Commissioner of the region Lydia W. Munyi, urged the community to prioritize girls’ education, underscoring the transformative power of education in her own life.
Furthermore, the founding Director at Greenland Girls School Purity Gikunda and a board member of Naretu Maa emphasized that FGM remains a grim reality in the region, but they stand at the forefront in the battle to eradicate it.
By Obegi Malack
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