Freeing girls from hardships is her calling

Nuria Gollo                      PHOTOS BY Nanjinia Wamuswa

Kenya: At 16, Nuria Gollo found herself in a forced marriage, a few months after surviving female genital mutilation. Every girl was facing the cut and she certainly did not find anything wrong with it.

However, her marriage to an elderly man did not last. They were divorced two years later and after bringing forth a baby girl. Nuria says there was no love between them since the arrangement was only convenient for her parents — to create them more wealth.

After the divorce, which she calls a blessing in disguise, Nuria, a secondary school drop out, resolved to continue with her studies. She would graduate from Egoji Teachers Training College in 1990 as a P2 teacher.

“The divorce gave me the liberty to do what I had always wanted,” she says.

Nuria taught at various schools, including St Teresa’s Marsabit, Sakuu, Hula Hula and St John’s Primary in Marsabit. Meanwhile, she saw how culture oppressed women and decided to do something about it. “The cut, forced marriage and denying girls an education is a violation of human rights,” she says.

Men hailed, women despised

 Nuria say that there are times when a wife is disciplined by their relatives for defying her husband. Her community often  denies women a chance to be empowered lest they compete with their men.

They are also locked out of decision-making so that communal secrets are not leaked to other tribes.

Stung by these revelations, Nuria resolved to help women and young girls out of retrogressive cultural practices. She would leave school to attend to women and young girls being threatened by FGM, early marriage and gender violence.

“Most of the time l was on the road or at police stations reporting cases,” she says. When Nuria realised this other job was consuming her time, she opted for early retirement in 2000 and established the Marsabit Women Advocacy Development Organisation three years later to fight for and protect the rights of vulnerable girls and women.

“I started the organisation to empower women and young girls to rise and hold key positions in various fields in the country. I wanted FGM, early marriages stopped and girls go to school and be decision makers,” she says.

Exploited by chiefs

Nuria, now 45, says the organisation helps to educate women and young girls on their rights. They are advised to report whenever they feel exploited by chiefs, their assistants or any other leader.

In the past, they have settled cattle theft cases involving  different tribes through diplomacy rather than war as was the norm.

 

The journey of a thousand miles

Nuru discloses that her organisation has made  great  progress because many children, including girls, now attend schools. Early marriage is also on the decline and vulnerable children young women can now boldly report whenever they are exploited.

Nuria regrets that men in some regions secretly marry off their young daughters  for fear of being arrested.

Today, Nuria has a complete office with board members, six women and three men from different tribal communities across Marsabit County.

She has had her share of challenges . In pastoralist communities, outspoken women are viewed as enemies of the tribe.

In this light, Nuria regrets that women in Marsabit are their own worst enemies. She explains, “Few elite women imagine that supporting others means their opportunities will be grabbed. This is pure jealousy.”

Empowered women

Men also feel threatened because empowered women will rival them in various positions. She says it is difficult to get adequate funding to help more women.

Nuria’s hands are also tied by her religion. She explains, “In Islam, women are only allowed to address fellow women and not men. Therefore, addressing issues that involve men can be quite a challenge.”

She believes people in Marsabit County and those from other warring communities can be made more aware through civic education. Nuria also wants elected leaders  to spend less time in the capital and more time  with their electorate so  they can preach the message of peace.