Women leaders have urged communities to prioritise education for both boys and girls while abandoning cultural practices that hinder development.
Speaking during the ongoing Maasai Cultural Festival at Amboseli national Park in Kajiado County, the leaders said education plays a vital role in improving the quality of life and driving social progress.
Led by Cabinet Secretary for Defence Soipan Tuya, the leaders noted that education bridges social and economic inequalities and lays the foundation for a prosperous future for the Maasai community and the nation.
“Let us educate our children so that they can have a better future and participate in nation-building,” CS Tuya said.
She added that with the recent transfer of Amboseli National Park to the Kajiado County Government, residents will soon benefit from new economic opportunities and must position themselves to take full advantage.
County First Ladies Association chairlady Alamitu Guyo Jattani emphasised the transformative power of education, describing it as the most effective tool for unlocking human potential.
She praised the Maa community for safeguarding its cultural heritage but noted that low education levels remain a major challenge in pastoralist regions.
“I want to urge all of us to embrace education and shun retrogressive practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriages, which hinder our children from fulfilling their dreams,” she said.
Kajiado County spouse of the Governor, Ednah Lenku, reiterated the need to empower women and girls to live in dignity, health, and freedom.
She acknowledged progress in the fight against FGM but said more work is needed to eradicate the practice.
Narok County Governor’s wife Agnes Ntutu expressed concern over rising cases of early marriage, noting that statistics show one in every eight children in Maasai land is married off early.
She encouraged parents to allow daughters to pursue education so they can become influential leaders in the future, like CS Tuya.
By Diana Meneto
