How border school is saving girls from FGM, early marriage

Asilong Christian School in Kacheliba, West Pokot County. [Irrisheel Shanzu, Standard] Along the rugged Kenya-Uganda border in Kacheliba Constituency, West Pokot County, a small school has quietly become a lifeline for vulnerable children - especially girls fleeing female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriages. At Asilong Christian School, the sound of students reading in classrooms now replaces stories of fear, poverty, and insecurity that once defined the area. The school, founded in 2017, has emerged as one of the top-performing institutions in the county, ranking among the top three schools in West Pokot. Its success has been driven largely by girls who once ran away from forced marriages and harmful cultural practices. Students of Asilong Christian School in Kacheliba, West Pokot County. [Irrisheel Shanzu, Standard] For many of them, education became the only escape from a life that seemed already decided for them. Located near the Kenya-Uganda border, the school has become a haven for girls who flee their homes to avoid early marriages and the threat of FGM. Many arrive with little hope but leave with a renewed sense of purpose. According to the school principal, Richard Kosgei, the institution has helped transform the lives of hundreds of children from both Kenya and neighboring Uganda. Kosgei said the school's performance in the 2025 national examinations reflects the determination of students who once faced enormous barriers to education. Principal Richard Kosgei of Asilong Christian School in West Pokot County. [Irrisheel Shanzu, Standard] "We recorded a mean score of 8.25 in 2025, which shows the school is doing very well academically," said Kosgei. He added that the school currently has 520 students and 20 teachers, a number that continues to grow as more families embrace education. "When we started the school in 2017, the community was deeply affected by traditions such as early marriages and cattle rustling," Kosgei explained. "But things are changing. Girls have now embraced education and are helping transform the community." For decades, cultural practices such as early marriages and FGM forced many girls out of school. Some were married off to older men - including warriors from across the border in Uganda - before they even completed primary education. Kosgei says the school has played a key role in changing these attitudes. "Many of the girls who study here escaped early marriages. Some were being married off to warriors across the border," he said. "Today they are in school, and they are becoming role models in the community." He noted that the presence of the school has helped reduce tensions between communities living along the border. "The school has also helped ease conflicts along the Kenya-Uganda border because we have students from both countries learning together," Kosgei said. For years, children in Kacheliba Constituency have struggled to access education due to poverty, insecurity, and harsh climatic conditions. The region frequently experiences drought, which kills livestock - the main source of livelihood for many families. Rivers dry up, agricultural activities decline, and families are left with little income to support their children's education. Insecurity caused by cattle rustling and banditry has also disrupted learning in many parts of West Pokot. Cross-border conflicts between communities living along the Kenya-Uganda boundary have left many families displaced and children orphaned. As a result, thousands of children have been forced to drop out of school due to a lack of school fees. Some pupils abandoned classrooms to herd livestock, while others fled their homes due to insecurity. However, hope is slowly returning to the region after parents and schools received bursaries worth Sh60 million through the National Government Constituency Development Fund. The bursaries, distributed in Kacheliba Constituency, have helped many students who had been sent home due to a lack of fees return to school. The funding was released after the court allowed the continued use of the NG-CDF program. Parents and school administrators say the bursaries will help ensure that vulnerable children continue with their education. Kacheliba Member of Parliament Titus Lotee said the initiative aims to ensure that no child is locked out of school because of financial challenges. Meanwhile, Pokot South MP, David Pkosing, urged communities to abandon harmful practices that deny girls their right to education. Parents whose children study at Asilong Christian School say the institution has brought hope to families that once struggled to educate their children. One of the parents, John Lodinyo, said the school's performance has impressed many in the region. "The results are very impressive and even outshine some national schools," said Lodinyo. He noted that the school has given children from poor families an opportunity to succeed academically. "Many of us could not afford school fees, but now our children are performing well and have hope for a better future," he added. Education professional Naomi Kendagor said institutions like Asilong play a critical role in protecting vulnerable children and promoting social transformation. "Education empowers girls and gives them the ability to make independent decisions about their future," she said. Today, the once-struggling border community is witnessing a gradual transformation. Classrooms that were once half empty are slowly filling up again as more children return to school. For the girls who once ran away from forced marriages and FGM, Asilong Christian National School has become more than just a place of learning. It is a place where dreams are rebuilt, hope is restored, and the cycle of poverty and illiteracy is slowly being broken. And for many families in Kacheliba, the success of the school signals the beginning of a new dawn for education in West Pokot.

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