•First Lady Alamitu Guyo Champions Girls’ Empowerment in Sololo as 130 Trained on Dangers of FGM and Early Marriage
More than 130 girls aged between 11 and 16 years gathered at Dr. Guracha Memorial Girls School in Sololo for an intensive week-long empowerment camp aimed at tackling the deeply rooted challenges of female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriage, and other harmful cultural practices.
The transformative initiative, now in its 11th edition, is a flagship program of the Mama Guyo Foundation, spearheaded by Marsabit County First Lady Alamitu Jattani Guyo.
Held under the banner of the Gaddis Gamme Girls’ Camp, the program is part of a broader mission by the First Lady to safeguard the rights, health, and futures of young girls across Marsabit County.
Since its inception in 2019, the camp has directly impacted over 3,200 girls, providing them with critical life skills and knowledge in a culturally sensitive yet progressive environment.
Throughout the camp, the participants engaged in a robust curriculum that included sessions on menstrual health and hygiene, reproductive health, the importance of education, and the psychological impacts of early marriage and FGM.
The training also covered digital literacy and safety, emotional well-being, self-confidence, and fostering positive communication between girls and their families.
A unique feature of the program, the “girl-to-parent” bonfire talk, capped the training. This emotionally resonant evening, held under the stars, allows the girls to share their insights, fears, and aspirations with their parents in a safe and supportive setting — a powerful tool for building trust and mutual understanding.
In a moving address during the graduation ceremony, First Lady Alamitu Guyo underscored the importance of equipping girls with the tools to protect themselves and advocate for their rights.
“I am proud of the progress these young girls have made. They now possess the knowledge, confidence, and courage to reject harmful practices and speak openly about their health and rights,” said Lady Alamitu.
“Education is the great equalizer — it holds the power to transform not only individual lives but entire communities. I urge you to stay in school, pursue your dreams, and always remember your worth.”
Lady Alamitu has emerged as a key voice in the fight against FGM in northern Kenya, leveraging her platform not only to raise awareness but to mobilize community support and political will.
Under her leadership, the Mama Guyo Foundation has expanded its programs to integrate mentorship, psychosocial support, and parent engagement — addressing the root causes that sustain practices like FGM and early marriage.
The camp also highlighted the county’s broader commitment to eliminating FGM. Borana elder Galm Dabasa, a revered figure in the community, reiterated that FGM was formally outlawed by the 2020 Gummi Gayo Assembly, the region’s traditional governance forum.
He called on community members still practicing it in secrecy to stop, warning of its grave health consequences and the legal penalties that accompany it.
“This practice is not only harmful but illegal. As elders, we must be custodians of positive culture, not agents of pain,” said Dabasa.
The event was attended by high-ranking county and national government officials, including County Secretary Hussein Tari, County Executive Committee Members, Chief Officers, Members of the County Assembly, and representatives of the national administration.
Their presence reaffirmed institutional backing for the anti-FGM campaign and underscored the collective responsibility in safeguarding girls’ rights.
The success of the Gaddis Gamme Girls’ Camp continues to inspire similar grassroots initiatives across northern Kenya.
For First Lady Alamitu Guyo, the vision is clear: a Marsabit County where every girl is safe, educated, and empowered to reach her full potential — free from fear, stigma, or discrimination.
“Let us all be advocates for our daughters,” she concluded. “When we empower a girl, we empower a nation.”
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