Rescuing girls from enslaving cultures

“My parents were determined to have me undergo FGM, but God used my class teacher who took me to Ms Gathogo’s safe house,” says 33-year-old Isinino Abdullahi.

The now 33-year-old Ms Isinino is a nurse at Kimanjo Sub-county Hospital where she attends to 97 per cent of young expectant women suffering from complications brought about by FGM.

At the age of 13, Ms Isinino escaped from the cut and early marriage and sought solace at Ms Gathogo’s. She managed to tiptoe out of the homestead on a day she was to face the cut. Her parents had cleaned up the homestead in anticipation of her marriage ceremony on the same day.

But thanks to One More Day for Children (OMDC) a safe house for girls rescued from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early marriages and other oppressive cultural practices, Ms Isinino can confidently share her story today. She spoke during a tour to the facility by a few well-wishers.

The safe house situated at Doldol Township in the remote parts of Laikipia North Sub-county, where Ms Isinino spent the better part of her childhood, is keen on assisting the government to deliver in the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the rights of children.

It has, over the years, salvaged 500 girls from enslaving cultures and catapulted them to pursue their dreams.

OMDC Executive Director Hellen Gathogo yesterday said the organisation will continue partnering with the government to ensure President Uhuru Kenyatta’s promise of ending FGM by 2022 is achieved.

"The President has pledged to eradicate FGM by 2022, and we guarantee him of our support in achieving this. We will help his administration in delivering its promise after the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the rights of children as well as the African Charter on the rights and welfare of children," Ms Gathogo said.

Local MP Sarah Lekorere called on the government to upscale its efforts in upholding the law by ensuring culprits oppressing children are arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

"We have good laws that protect the interests of children. The President has shown the goodwill to eliminate these vices, and the administration officers should be on the forefront in supporting him," Ms Lekorere said after leading a few well-wishers in donating essentials to the safe house.

"The government should not relegate the obligation of catering for the needs of these children to well-wishers. Children hosted in this safe house belong to the government. Some of them are orphans while others are filled with trauma after staring at FGM," she added.

Ms Zineb Sajid, a psychology graduate from University of West London, said she opted to tour the safe house to conduct research on the psychological effects of FGM on women.

"I am currently doing a research on women’s experiences of FGM, and these girls at OMDC have really inspired me, especially after learning how they untangled themselves from the chains of oppression," Ms Sajid said.

To the 57 girls aged between two to 22 years, OMDC is a safe haven for them after being rescued from poverty and oppressive cultures not only in Laikipia, but also the neighbouring Samburu, Isiolo and Baringo counties.