From child marriage to the classroom: Samburu elders back girls’ education, declare war on harmful practices

Charity Nasieku* was the youngest in a family of nine children. Born in Suguta Murmur, about 45 kilometres from Maralal town, she loved going to school and playing with her friends at weekends as they looked after livestock.

However, her life suddenly changed in 2022, when she was about to turn eight. Charity remembers that one evening after school, her father took her aside for an “important conversation”. She recalls her father telling her that she was growing into a woman and would soon start a family of her own. He added that, from the next day, she would no longer go to school but remain at home to take care of household duties.

Heartbroken, she remembers pleading with her father to let her go back to school, but he refused, citing cultural expectations. “I spent months out of school, looking after cattle and helping my mother around the house,” she recalls.

During this period, older men came to the family home each day, bringing gifts and asking to meet her. Charity did not know that the men were frequenting her home as suitors seeking her hand in marriage. Of the five who showed interest, a 72-year-old man emerged as the successful suitor, making her his fourth wife.

As the culture stipulated, Charity first underwent female genital mutilation (FGM) before she was married off. With that, Charity’s thirst and quest for education came to an abrupt end.

Rescued and sheltered

She was, however, lucky to be rescued a few weeks later and taken to a safe house, where she was enrolled in a nearby school. Her experience mirrors that of many girls in Samburu who have to grapple with child marriage and FGM at the expense of their education.

However, the plight of these girls could soon end, following a declaration by elders. The Samburu Council of Elders Association (SCEA) earlier this week vowed to end child marriage and directed that every child be enrolled and retained in school. The elders regretted that many girls in Samburu remain out of school, a situation they noted fuels child marriage and perpetuates the cycle of poverty.