Back in 2009, female circumcision and forced marriages were prevalent in the Maasai community. Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya, a survivor of FGM herself, determined to take action.
This led to the establishment of Kakenya’s Dream, a non-profit organization that supports vulnerable girls from marginalized families in Narok county through education and protection against harmful traditions, including Female Genital Mutilation, forced child marriage, and gender-based violence.
Kakenya’s Dream is headquartered in Keiyan ward in Transmara West subcounty of Narok county, an area predominantly inhabited by the Maasai community.
Motivated by a strong desire to protect girls and ensure them a brighter future through education, Dr. Ntaiya embarked on a journey that would ultimately transform lives throughout the region.
The organization has subsequently established two educational institutions to provide comprehensive learning, safety, and protection for girls as they pursue their studies.
These include the Kakenya Centre for Excellence I in Enosaen village, which caters to primary school girls, and the Kakenya Centre for Excellence II in Isampin village, which serves as a Girls High School.
Maximillan Kemnto, a current student at Kakenya Centre for Excellence, exemplifies the positive impact of the program on vulnerable girls.
Coming from a financially disadvantaged family, Kemnto had almost lost hope of joining secondary school despite scoring 336 marks in KCPE.
“My parents could not afford school fees, uniforms, and other requirements. I remained at home while my classmates joined Form One,” she recalled.
She mentioned that the experience left her feeling isolated and emotionally distressed.
“I felt lost because all my friends had proceeded to secondary school, while I remained at home,” she said.
Her circumstances changed after a family friend advised her parents to seek assistance from Kakenya’s Dream.
“I was invited for an interview and successfully secured admission to Kakenya Centre for Excellence II. Since then, I have never looked back,” she said proudly.
Kemnto described life at the institution as fulfilling and supportive.
“We enjoy good learning facilities, nutritious meals, study trips, and supportive teachers. The school also nurtures talents through music, drama, and sports,” she said.
The aspiring journalist added that the Kakenya Health and Wellness Center, also established through the Kakenya’s Dream initiative, provides free medical services and care to students.
THOUSANDS ASSISTED
With a mission to provide girls with equal educational opportunities as boys, to date, Kakenya’s Dream has helped approximately 1,000 girls escape FGM and early marriage. They have further benefited from quality education, guaranteeing them a promising future.
The initiative was launched when Maasai girls were largely viewed as assets meant for marriage in exchange for dowry.
Parents prioritized educating boys while girls remained at home, performing domestic chores as they awaited marriage.
The challenge was particularly difficult since Kakenya’s Dream was established before Kenya outlawed FGM and child marriage through laws enacted in 2011.
Consequently, the initiative initially faced strong resistance from certain sections of the community, who viewed it as a threat to their long-held traditions and way of life.
An elder from Isampin village, Parsaloi Semeyoi, recalled that the Kakenya’s Dream program encountered significant opposition during its early years.
“Many people believed the program was interfering with our culture. But today, the same community has fully embraced it after realizing the immense benefits it has brought,” Semeyoi told The Star during a visit on April 29.
He stated that the girl-centric program has successfully eliminated many barriers that previously hindered girls’ education.
Semeyoi mentioned that many families have experienced improved livelihoods through the support of educated daughters who have become professionals in various fields.
“Kakenya’s Dream is one of the best things to ever happen in this region. It has brought light to what was once a dark society. Girls from this program are now doctors, teachers, nurses, and other professionals,” he said.
He expressed hope that the organization would one day establish a university adjacent to the Kakenya Centre for Excellence II to enable girls to pursue higher education in the same environment.
GENDER EQUALITY
Lengetu Ole Sopia, 60, whose daughter is currently in Grade 10 at Kakenya Centre for Excellence II, stated that the program has transformed not only Transmara West but also neighboring regions of Kisii, Migori, and Transmara East.
“The Maasai community in Transmara West, Kilgoris, and beyond has witnessed the fruits of this initiative,” Ole Sopia said.
“We are proud of having the Centres for Excellence in our midst thanks to Kakenya’s Dream.”
He recalled that when the program began, FGM was common and very few girls were allowed to pursue education. However, the narrative has since changed significantly for the better, he added.
“Thanks to Kakenya’s Dream, FGM has greatly decreased and many parents now recognize the importance of educating girls,” he said.
Ole Sopia lamented that in the past, young girls were married off at tender ages, sometimes to men old enough to be their grandfathers.
“A girl as young as 15 could be married off to a man aged 40 or even 50 years. People did not care whether or not a girl was mature enough,” he recalled.
He explained that once a girl showed signs of physical development, she was considered ready for marriage after undergoing FGM.
“Fortunately, those harmful practices have largely disappeared, especially in areas influenced by Kakenya’s Dream. Residents have rejected the regressive traditions,” he added.
Ole Sopia described Kakenya Centre for Excellence II as a “home away from home” for the girls, noting that students are provided with all their necessities, enabling them to focus completely on their studies.
“The program even supports girls who proceed to universities and tertiary colleges. Many parents now wish to have their daughters enrolled in the program, but the capacity is limited,” he said.
He praised Kakenya’s Dream for sponsoring girls from primary school through to institutions of higher learning, stating that the initiative has significantly reduced gender inequality in education.
COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT
Kakenya Centre for Excellence II deputy principal Chimoli Bibiana stated that the educational institution provides comprehensive support to girls from vulnerable families.
“We provide school uniforms, meals, learning materials, and all other necessities to ensure the girls can concentrate on their education,” she said.
She added that the institution also supplies sanitary towels, personal effects, books, and other essential items.
Bibiana mentioned that the school works closely with the community to discourage harmful cultural practices.
“We respect culture, but whenever cultural practices threaten the well-being and education of learners, we engage the community through awareness programs,” she said.
Bibiana added that the impact of the program is evident through the success stories of former students, some of whom now work within the institution itself.
Kakenya’s Dream education program manager Victor Nyambok stated that the organization has made significant progress since its establishment.
“More than 100 girls from our Centres of Excellence have transitioned to university, with nearly 20 having proceeded abroad for further studies,” he said.
Nyambok mentioned that more than 80 percent of the school’s KCSE candidates qualify for direct university entry.
“We are committed to quality education that extends beyond academics. We equip girls with leadership skills, life skills, career guidance, and sexual reproductive health education,” he said.
Through education, mentorship, and community empowerment, Kakenya’s Dream continues to transform the narrative of Maasai girls, replacing fear and limitation with hope, opportunity, and achievement.