Migori Governor Dr. Ochillo Ayacko has appealed to young mothers affected by teenage pregnancies and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to return to school and pursue education that can help them build better lives.
Speaking at Taranganya Boys’ High School during the inaugural Minority Groups Cultural Festival, the governor said education remains open to all regardless of age, and encouraged young women to take up courses of their choice with determination.
Dr. Ayacko emphasized that both technical and academic training are essential in today’s world, noting that education equips individuals with the skills needed to navigate life and contribute meaningfully to society.
He urged parents in the Kuria community to abandon outdated cultural practices that undermine women and instead support girls and young mothers to continue with their studies.
The governor encouraged school leavers to enroll in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to acquire practical skills that match the demands of a competitive job market increasingly driven by skilled labour. He clarified that his call for cultural reform was not an attack on tradition but an appeal to refine practices that harm or limit community members. “I am not telling you to abandon our culture, which is our identity, but to prune the areas that contaminate it,” he said.
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The three‑day cultural festival brought together participants from Kisii County and the Suba, Kuria and Maragoli communities, who showcased their heritage through traditional foods, dances, songs, chants and recitations. The colourful event was attended by several government officials, including Kisii Governor Simba Arati.
Governor Arati praised Migori County for hosting the festival, saying such events help reinforce cultural knowledge among young people who are increasingly disconnected from their roots. Arati encouraged the youth to use modern technology, such as smartphones and laptops, to research their communities’ histories and understand their identity. “We must look at the past of our people to trace our roots for self‑understanding,” Arati said.
Dr. Ayacko called on other county governments to emulate Migori by organizing similar cultural festivals, noting that such gatherings promote unity and foster peaceful coexistence among Kenya’s diverse ethnic groups. He urged young people to use these platforms to learn how to live harmoniously as one community despite their cultural differences.
By Enock Okong’o
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