This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
On Sunday, a campaign against gender-based violence was launched in Allamano area, Maralal town, Samburu County, Kenya.
According to Irene Leluata, the county's executive in charge of Gender Culture and Social Services, gender-based violence has denied girls an opportunity to further their education.
"Gender-based violence and FGM are retrogressive cultural practices that ought to be shunned by the community as they have denied many girls a chance to pursue education," she said.
The county government has drafted a Bill to prevent men from marrying minors, which will soon be tabled at the county assembly.
Ms Leluata expressed confidence that the proposed law would end outdated cultural practices that discriminate against women and girls.
Community elders, religious leaders, and chiefs have committed to fighting retrogressive cultural practices, with a goal of ending harmful practices by 2022.
Members of the County Assembly, youth advocacy groups, and civil society organisations have joined the county government in fighting gender-based violence.
Moses Letitoiya, Manager of the Samburu Girls Foundation, attributed high poverty and illiteracy levels to the high prevalence of FGM and early marriages in the county.
"We have rescued around 56 girls from early marriages," he said.
Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson Ann Lenturkana underscored the need to sensitise the community on the importance of enrolling girls in school as one way of fighting FGM and early marriages.
