Protecting Girls from Genital Mutilation in Kenya

Tareto Maa

It all started way back in 1991, when I underwent the traditional way of Maasai life from childhood to adulthood, hence circumcision which is now referred to as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). It was the pride of parent to see that his or her child goes through it. However I went through against my wish since it was done by force. Up to date it really has affected my life, the whole family was not happy by my refusal.

After circumcision, I left home disillusioned following an engagement to a man who was five times older than me, leading to my rejection by my family. I took refuge in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve at the age of 12 years, where I got employed.

I developed an interest in how to safe the Maasai girl from going through the heinous act, which left me with pain, shame, trauma and rejection.

My working in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve did not satisfy my needs hence migration to Mombasa where I started a small business selling Maasai Ornaments. Trough it I made some savings which enabled me to progress until  I could buy a taxi. I did the taxi business in Mombasa to the point where I had four taxis. I was able to maintain my self, my son and the family at large. As a result of my success I won back my parents and siblings.

After that I came back home I decided to buy my own piece of land. As inheritance is exclusively passed on from father to son a Maasai woman usually does not own anything.

The land bought is where I still live today an that's where I actualized, with the little savings I had, my dream of setting up a rescue center hence the birth of Tareto Maa.

Naitawang Riverside Academy

Another thing I realized was that poor education Maasai is one of the causes for early marriages. In my case I dropped out of school with 12 years, not able to read and write fluently.

Naitawang was born out of Tareto Maa to give the rescued girls education. It would be meaningless to save the girls from FGM just to land them on early marriage.

As a result of all the above, the quality of education given here has impressed the community to the extend that the surrounding families have also enrolled their children at the same school hence an early indicator of the success in the future.

Children are now able to read and write.

We have a good testimony of the fruits of Tareto Maa, right now we have two girls who have gone through the process from the primary school, high school up to the Teachers Training college having completed a P1 course courtesy of Tareto Maa. Others have joined other middle colleges.

As of now, the school has population of 126 girls being sponsored.

We want to thank everyone for making all these achievements possible. Keep donating please, so we can develop and expand this work. Without you we could not achieve this.

MAASAI ELDERS DENOUNCE OUTDATED CULTURAL PRACTICES

A section of Maasai elders from Trans Mara have denounced outdated cultural practices like Moranism and Female Genital Mutilation saying they had impacted negatively on the community.

Speaking during a pre- initiation ceremony for a group of boys held at Osupuko Hills Springs Children home, the elders called on the Maasai community to abandon the outdated cultural practices and embrace modern way of living.

They said though the move may seem to conflict with what most members of their community of their generation believe, it was for the well being of the future generations.

They said that they know that their  people are still rooted in the retrogressive cultural practices, but it is time they  told  them the truth.

The elders from the Ilnyangusi and Seuri age sets that characterise the elderly in the Maasai community said FGM had denied the girl child in the Maasai community education while moranism had denied the boy child right to education.

Mr Olelemwa Seitai said they are now advocating for modern circumcision of boys where boys are taught matters adulthood in a Christian background and civilised manner and finally circumcised by a trained health personnel.

He said Maasai land lacked enough professionals because most of their children had not gone to school and urged the community to   embrace education in a bid to raise an elite community.

Mr Juusi Ole Mantu  said the community should only embrace helpful practices and abandon the harmful old practices. He said old and new practices should be made to align for the well being of the community.

Mr William Ole Karante said education was key to success and urged that the new generation should do away with retrogressive culture.

He condemned circumcision of girls saying uncircumcised women were women enough just like the circumcised ones.

He added that the community must gear up to compete with other communities in the world and the only possible way is by educating their children.