Young girls have been urged to be bold and confident when standing up for their rights.
This was the message delivered to teenage girls present during celebrations to mark the International Day of the Girl Child 2025 in Uasin Gishu County under the theme ‘The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis’.
The International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated on October 11 to highlight the importance of girls’ rights, to promote their empowerment and to address the inequalities and challenges they face globally.
In her remarks during the celebrations held at the county headquarters in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu Women representative, Gladys Boss Shollei pointed out that Kenya’s journey on women empowerment began from the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark global agenda for gender equality adopted by 189 governments and the Fourth world conference on women held in China, way back in 1995.
Shollei noted that this day was set aside, particularly because it was realised that in order to have women in future positions of leadership, you’ve got to start empowering them from the time when they are young girls.
The women rep mentioned that this was a special moment to be able to look back at the progress that has been made in empowering the girl child after it was also discovered that girls suffer certain unique challenges.
“For instance, girls are exposed to early pregnancies; they have challenges of not getting a proper education, besides being subjected to gender-based violence, thus becoming vulnerable in their communities,” she said.
“Even for lack of basic things like sanitary towels, it has been discovered that some girls are missing school every month because of their menstrual cycle.
And that is why on this particular day, we must all ensure that more and more girls are able to be retained in school,” said Shollei, citing empowerment of women as crucial steps toward personal and societal advancement.
Noting that women make up 52 per cent of the country’s population, Shollei, who is also the National Assembly Deputy Speaker, said any nation that leaves behind such a huge segment of its people cannot progress at all.
She therefore emphasised that women empowerment was not only an issue about equality but also an essential economic component for any progressive nation.
The women rep counselled participants on the importance of using time wisely and surrounding oneself with positive influences while engaging in activities that foster personal growth, such as reading and mentorship, rather than wasting time on unproductive interactions.
She underscored the significance of selecting peers who contribute positively to one’s life, the value of seeking opportunities for learning, and the necessity of empowering women in decision-making roles, especially in contexts dominated by men.
At the same time, Shollei advised young girls on the importance of self-assertion and being resilient in the face of challenges while cultivating self-investment and positive relationships.
“So I want to tell young people, life isn’t easy. But only the resilient people will be able to survive. That’s why you must be careful not to be influenced by people and end up giving up your life to the so-called sponsors, or others who end up destroying your life, as you get pregnant or contract diseases including HIV,” cautioned the Deputy Speaker.
On education, Shollei advocated for the inclusion of sex education in the school curriculum, with a view to sensitising children to avoid getting into sexual activities at a tender age.
“Additionally, every school, besides having a chaplain, should also have a parapsychologist to help in researching and studying paranormal phenomena, such as telepathy, precognition, psychokinesis, and near-death experiences,” she added.
Former IPOA Commissioner Praxedes Tororey said the celebration serves as a reminder of the necessity for continuous support and commitment towards the betterment of the girl child to ensure equal future opportunities and leadership roles for women.
“We believe that every girl needs a chance and opportunity in life. So we are calling upon all the girls to be bold to stand up and fight for their rights. A happy girl is a happy home,” noted Tororey.
While expressing passion for all children, Tororey indicated that celebrating the girl child is mainly to ensure every girl has an opportunity, but that does not mean discrediting the boy child, who must also be supported.
All stakeholders present called for concerted efforts to fight the challenges faced by the girl child in society, such as the issue of the triple threat of new HIV infections and adolescent pregnancies, as well as sexual and gender-based violence in order to ensure the girl child thrives in life.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
