This archive report was first published on 22 August 2019.
Agnes Asiiyen, a 13-year-old girl from Kaakalel village in Loima constituency, Turkana County, has never set foot in school. Published on August 22, 2019, her story highlights the challenges faced by girls in the region.
On a sunny day, Agnes is found among a group of girls weeding maize crops at the Kalingata Irrigation Scheme in Loima. Her beautiful dark skin shines in the sun, and her smile is infectious. The tattoos, ng'ageran, on her arms are conspicuous.
Agnes was beaded four years ago, and the beads on her neck keep increasing as years pass by. She spends her day helping her mother with farming, weeding their maize and sorghum crops, and occasionally heading to the nearest posho mill to mill grains for their local brew business.
"The busaa is made from fermented sorghum and maize flour. We make it in huge plastic drums. A litre goes for Ksh20," Agnes explains through an interpreter. Most of her day is spent fetching water to fill up the drums.
Agnes also spends a lot of time tiling her family's portion of farm at the Kalingata Irrigation Scheme, where ChildFund Kenya is helping the pastoralist community to grow maize, sorghum, vegetables, and other food crops to fight food insecurity.
When asked if she would like to go to school, Agnes responds, "I am very comfortable the way I am. School would exert unnecessary pressure and disturb my life. Maybe I can pursue a course like weaving plaiting, and dressmaking."
Despite her comfort with her current life, Agnes acknowledges the challenges faced by girls in Turkana, including being sent to burn charcoal in the forest and accessing sanitary pads. "Most of us teenage girls, especially those who do not attend school, have to walk for long distances to areas where there are schools to be able to access the government-provided sanitary towels," she says.
