A couple is walking from Narok to Nairobi in a bid to solicit for funds to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and teenage pregnancy that is threatening the future of girls in Narok County.
Hope International Church Bishop Patrick Ngigi and his wife Josephine Ngigi are walking 140 kilometers from Narok town to Nairobi where they hope to meet President William Ruto to seek government’s funds to help end the vice.
The couple runs a rescue center in Narok town dubbed ‘Mission with a vision’ where they have rescued over 120 girls from FGM and early marriages, whom they feed and educate
The rescue center has been helping the Maa girls who suffer ridicule from the society because of refusing to undergo retrogressive cultural practice.
“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.
The spiritual leader also wants the government to establish guidance and counselling centers in the 30 wards of the county where the girls can reach easily and get assistance.
His wife, Ms. Ngigi observed that teenage pregnancy was fueled by FGM as the young girls feel mature enough to engage in sexual activities after undergoing the vice.
“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.
The initiative was flagged off by Narok North MP Agnes Pareiyo, Narok Children officer Pilot Khaemba and Assistant County Commissioner Mr. Shakur Ali.
This comes at a time when the education stakeholders in the county have raised concern over rampant girl pregnancy in the county, forcing the authority to launch a Rapid Result Initiative (RRI) aimed at arresting and prosecuting culprits of teenage pregnancies.
Commissioner Masinde however said the rate of teenage pregnancy in the county has dropped from 40 per cent to less than 30 percent in a period of five years commending the stakeholders for holding community sensitization forums that has borne fruits.
The Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS), 2014 ranked Narok County the top in teenage pregnancy at 40 percent.
By Ann Salaton
