Written By Vanessa Kariuki ||
Bishop Patrick Ngigi of the Hope International Church and his wife Josephine Ngigi walked 140 kilometers on foot from Narok to Nairobi in the hopes of meeting President William Ruto to request funding from the government to help put an end to female genital mutilation (FGM).
“We want to get an address from the government on issues of teenage pregnancy that have been too rampant in the county. If we keep quiet, who will help our girls?” said Bishop Ngigi.
In addition, the spiritual leader wants the government to build counseling and guidance offices in each of the county’s 30 wards so that young women may easily access them and receive support.
His wife, Ms. Ngigi, saw that FGM was a major contributor to teenage pregnancy because the young girls perceive themselves as old enough to engage in sexual activity following the practice.
“We want all girls to be in school and achieve their dreams. No girl deserves to be married before maturity. This is why my husband and I have decided to walk to Nairobi with a hope of meeting the president,” she said.
Agnes Pareiyo, a member of parliament for Narok North, Pilot Khaemba, a representative for Narok Children, and Mr. Shakur Ali, an assistant county commissioner, launched the initiative.
Over 120 girls who were being forced into early marriages and FGM have been saved by the pair, who runs a rescue center in Narok town called “Mission with a vision.” The girls are fed and educated there.
The rescue facility has been assisting Maa girls who experience social mockery for refusing to participate in outdated traditional practices.
The county’s education stakeholders have expressed worry about the high rate of female pregnancies at this time, prompting the authorities to create a Rapid Result Initiative (RRI) with the goal of apprehending and prosecuting those responsible for adolescent pregnancies.
