Women’s rights organizations, managed by women, from Laikipia, Isiolo, Samburu, and Marsabit counties have made a joint statement implying that both the county and national administrations should establish specific financing for the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriages, and other social injustices that threaten girls in the area.
This forum was held in Isiolo, where the speakers notioned that the cessation of donor support has impacted the grassroots initiatives in such a way that safeguarding girls rights is at risk.
The donors said that without help from the government on a sustainable basis, they are likely to see communities falling back to old ways of doing things thus exposing girls to health risks, violence, and the inability to continue their education journey.
The groups highlighted that to guard girl’s health, it is necessary to have a regular input of funds for community awareness, the provision of secure shelters and empowerment programs. They also warned that it is not sustainable to always depend on short-term donor funding.
They called upon the members of both these governing bodies – county as well as national to become the fighters against FGM and child marriages such their budgets allocation and said that only with government ownership can pulling out real long-lasting change be achieved.
