Wajir Woman MP Jeho calls for girl education, end to early marriages

Wajir Woman Representative Fatuna Jeho has appealed to residents to prioritise education for girls and shun the retrogressive culture of forcefully driving them to early marriages.

Jeho on Thursday said a time has come for women in the North Eastern region to unite and together champion the rights of girls.

She spoke at Eldas Girls Secondary School where she donated bursary cheques and dignity packages.

Her words resonated with urgency and determination as she highlighted the detrimental effects of early marriages on young girls.

With unwavering conviction, Jeho underscored the importance of education as a powerful tool for empowerment, emphasizing that every girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her dreams and aspirations without the constraints of early marital unions.

"I Would not have been a women's representative if my parents did not take me to school. I urge parents to take girls' education very seriously and ignore those advising them to give out their daughters for Marriage,” she said adding, “Early Marriage has a lot of side effects and trauma-related stress to young girls.”

The Woman Rep pleaded with parents to strike a chord within the community, sparking conversations and reflections on deeply ingrained cultural norms and practices.

Her call to action echoed beyond the school grounds, reverberating throughout Wajir, as she urged parents to break the cycle of poverty and inequality by investing in their daughters' education.

The legislature also said through her development initiatives and engagement with local leaders, she is working tirelessly to dismantle barriers to education and ensure that every girl in Wajir has the opportunity to reach her full potential.

Her sentiments were echoed by Eldas Girls Secondary School Deputy Principal Farhiya Abdi who emphasised the need to create more awareness and discourage early marriages.