NAIROBI/Kenya: In Kenya’s arid pastoral regions, child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) remain stubbornly entrenched despite national progress. While the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022 reports that the proportion of women married by age 18 has declined nationally to 25%—down from 42% in 1993—Samburu County continues to grapple with high rates of child marriage at 30% and teenage pregnancy at 50%.
In this challenging environment, two young girls, Antonella and Nashipae, have defied the odds. At nine, Antonella was slated for marriage by her father, who believed education was unnecessary for girls. In another part of Samburu, ten-year-old Nashipae faced a similar fate: withdrawn from school and subjected to FGM, a painful initiation meant to prepare her for marriage.
Both girls were rescued through a combination of community surveillance and government intervention, finding safety at the Samburu Girls Foundation (SGF), a refuge for girls escaping early marriage and FGM. For Antonella, the foundation offered protection, care, and a path back to learning through the Nabulaa Accelerator Learning Programme, designed for girls who had never attended school. Nashipae re-enrolled in Grade 3, receiving psychosocial support to heal from the trauma she had endured.
Education became a gateway to empowerment. Both girls discovered a passion for technology through SGF’s Technovation Programme, which encourages young women to develop tech-based solutions for local challenges. Antonella’s team created Trigger, an app aimed at reducing banditry in Samburu, which won a regional competition and launched her leadership journey.
“I am proud of how far I’ve come,” Antonella said. “I came from a home with no peace, no education, and faced FGM and forced marriage. Today, I am safe, happy, and thriving. I want to be a role model for other girls and show them that change is possible.”
Nashipae’s team, Junior Team Almasi, developed ENDCUT, an app that helps women market beaded crafts online while raising awareness about ending FGM. Their project received a Global Social Impact Award, demonstrating that innovation can flourish even under difficult circumstances.
“Joining SGF was the start of a transformative journey,” Nashipae said. “I am proud of my courage, growth, and accomplishments since becoming part of the foundation.”
Both girls now hold leadership positions within SGF: Antonella serves as President of the Technovation Club, while Nashipae is Speaker of the Girls’ Council. Together, they mentor younger girls, inspiring them to value education and claim their voices.
The Samburu Girls Foundation, with support from UNFPA Kenya and the Five Foundation, continues to fight FGM and child marriage in Samburu County through a three-year programme that empowers girls to know their rights and advocate for change. Through education, mentorship, and innovation, girls like Antonella and Nashipae are proving that even the harshest beginnings do not define a future of leadership and opportunity.
