School Girl Gets Sponsorship after rescue from early marriage

In the Maasai community culture, it is practical for a young woman to be married off at an early age to a much older man against her will. The move has led the girl in the community to drop education, early marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation among other vices meted to them.

But of late the community has started embracing education and abandoning the vices. The move is motivated by the enactment of laws after the government declared FGM is a criminal offense and fundamental human rights violation of women and girls.

Many girls in the community have been rescued from the vices and have now testimony and role models to other upcoming school going
children.

With each new story of bravery and success, a brave girl in Narok county is one of the children who have decided to battle the danger she was facing.

Joyce Namelok decided to rebel against his father, who was planning to marry her off to an old man after she failed to join form one during her
admission. “ When I heard that there is a political meeting near our home, I decided to attend and look for someone who will assist me to continue with my education,” said Namelok.

She added that she met Narok County Women Representative aspirant Jubilee ticket Jane Nampaso narrated her ordeal and she agreed to take me to her home.

“When she accepted my offer, I started having hope in life and I am grateful for her kind move to assist me,” she said.

Namelok, who scored 260 marks in the KCPE results, said she will work hard to achieve his dream of being a teacher

Nampaso said she met the girl during her political campaign meeting in Loita, Narok South sub-county and his pleas really touched her.

“She came to me crying when I highlighted to the community that if given the mandate, I will try as much as possible and assist the vulnerable girls who are never given the opportunity to continue with their education,” said Nampaso.

She added that she decided to take the girl to her Narok home where she looked for a sponsor to support her education.

“This is the time, I contacted renowned anti-FGM Activist Hellen Nkuraiya, who has happened to be my friend, and agreed to support the girl secondary education,” said Nampaso.

While receiving the girl, Hellen thanked Jane for rescuing the girl saying that she has gestured good leadership when it comes to fighting for the rights of girls.

“When I was called by Jane on the challenges facing the girl, I agreed to take the girl and he would support her education because we have been working closely with the government to ensure they achieved 100 percent transition rate,” said Hellen.

She added that she would take the girl to the Enkiteng LEPA rescue center, where she will assist there until she joins her secondary school.

Hellen said that she decided to support the girls noting she was also supported during her time when she was schooling.

The activist lauded the government efforts in fighting the vices led by Narok county commissioner Isaac Masinde saying the cooperation has led to the eradication of FGM.

The activist called on leaders and the people to support and work closely with the government by ensuring that Kenya should be FGM-free by 2022 as per the presidential directive.