27 schoolgirls flee from cut, early marriage

By Kipchumba Kemei

Narok County

Twenty-seven girls have fled their homes, to escape from forced marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in a location in Masai Mara.

Ten boys aged between seven and twelve have also fled after being forced to abandon education to herd livestock.

The pupils who are camping at Nkoilale Primary School have vowed not to return to their homes, saying they want to continue with education.

A group of parents yesterday forcefully entered the school head teacher’s office to demand the release of the children, saying they are the ones who can decide their future.

The head teacher Jacob Ololsikanyi and some teachers were forced to flee, paralysing learning for more than one hour.

The parents were unable to take their children back home after the teachers later regrouped and with support of the public from the nearby Nkoilale trading centre successfully kicked out the parents from the school compound.

Seek refuge

"The children who are from different schools in the location decided to escape from their homes to seek refuge in this only boarding school in the area," said Mr Ololsikanyi.

He said most boarding schools in Mara have been turned into rescue centres and warned that unless the Provincial Administration reins on parents who force their children out of school, girl-child education would be affected. "Since this school was started in 1992, only seven girls have managed to sit the KCPE examination. This indicates that most of them get married before attaining 18 years," said Ololsikanyi.

Narok South District Education Officer Nicholas Ambolwa said his office would work with the Provincial Administration to ensure all pupils camping in the school were returned to their respective institutions.

"This is a trend that must be stopped. My office and that of the DC will ensure that they continue with learning and action taken against their parents," said Mr Ambolwa.

Meanwhile, female MPs have drafted a Bill to seal loopholes in law that allow some communities to practice FGM. Assistant Minister for Cooperatives Linah Jebii Kilimo said the Bill proposes severe punishment for those practicing the vice.