By Amoto Ndiewo
Over 100 children in Garissa town have been trained on their rights by the Girl Child Network (GCN), an NGO.
The three day seminar boosted the war against intrusions of the girl child in remote Garissa and Tana counties.
GCN aspires to change the tide and navigate through the troubled waters by empowering girls with skills to realize their rights and responsibilities.
GCN team leader Francis Omariba said that their participation ladder begins from home and rises to the government on issues relevant to children and their protection.
‘Children have a right to communicate and to access information and education both from electronic and print media.’ Omariba noted.
He expressed joy that the children assemblies were initiating functional school health clubs.
The children assemblies’ administrative structure reflects the Kenyan political system.
‘’Children assembly is a forum for promoting child participation and engaging leaders at different levels.’ He said.
Mohamed Dure, the deputy head master of Jaribu primary school said that Tana and Garissa counties are girl child abuse hot spots.
He further explained that girls are exposed to FGM at infancy.
‘Though FGM is viewed a marriage certificate, it leads to early childhood motherhood. Divorce, carefree parenthood and overprotective parenthood give children a free range attitude which denies them parental love/care.’ he pointed out.
He added that girls have to know their rights to life and survival in remote hardship zones.
He said GCN trained the children who rely on school Feeding Program on their nutritious rights.
Dure argued that early pregnancy and marriage and the like reinforce school dropout in a region where early marriage syndrome dictates at a tender age of 12-14 years.
‘’Strangely in these regions, old men believe fondling young girls enriches erotic their prowess,’’ said Dure.
He added that though the girl child is sexually exploited, some parents are silenced by the desire to gain dowry to ‘alleviate’ themselves from poverty.
A survey conducted by Pastoralist Girls Initiative (PGI) in Garissa reveals that there are few societal role models.
‘Ills against the girl child like child labour and lack of parental advice (due to illiteracy) lock many children out of school,’ observed says Farhia Hajir of PGI.
Garissa District Children Officer Muturi Henry told the participants to be good ambassadors who will entice their village age mates and children on the need to enrol their children in school.
He urged the children to address issues that affect and shape their wellbeing and to avoid peer pressure which can lead to early sex, pregnancy and drug addiction.
Muturi advised parents to take both boys and girls to school and faulted local residents for awfully treating disabled children.
‘Sexual violence is common on both boys and girls but justice delivery is rare’ He lamented
Sahara Alasow from the Ministry of Education argued that children who grow up without rules grow up feeling insecure and less confident.
Mohamed Omar from Garissa primary said they have resolved not to be silent against the when ills are committed against the girl child.
Tana North Education Officer Komora Karise Dhadho urged parents, teachers and education officers to bridge the mischievous gap which naughty children exploit.
He urged girls to gear for good grades and to safeguard their freedom and report those abusing them physically or psychologically.
