On November 25, GRT had the privilege of taking part in the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, hosted at Suswa Girls’ Secondary School, in the heart of Narok County, Kenya.
During the event, the My Dear Daughter Campaign was presented—an initiative that invites families, mentors, and young people to imagine a future in which no daughter enters adulthood bearing scars, but instead grows up with dignity, education, and the freedom to choose her own destiny.
A historic moment marked the occasion: the Council of Maasai Elders from Narok and Kajiado counties publicly declared their commitment to ending female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage, signing an official declaration that formalizes this epoch-making shift.
In Kenya, FGM has been illegal since 2011, yet the practice remains widespread in some pastoral communities, sustained by social pressure, deeply rooted cultural norms, and early marriage. Maasai elders are not merely symbolic figures: they are the custodians of rites of passage and among the most influential social decision-makers.
For this very reason, their public stance represents a profound cultural turning point. The Elders acknowledged the role of tradition in perpetuating harmful practices and committed to leading intergenerational dialogues to transform long-standing social norms.
This commitment goes beyond condemning FGM and early marriage: it involves accompanying families, young people, teachers, community and spiritual leaders in building new, safe, and non-violent rites of passage.
The need to promote alternative rites that preserve the cultural meaning of growing up—without mutilation—was strongly reaffirmed. Maasai women and girls will no longer be considered “incomplete” without FGM; they will have equal value, dignity, and standing within the community. This powerful message dismantles a cultural pillar that has historically been used to justify the practice.
The Elders also expressed their full support for national laws prohibiting FGM, committing themselves to ensuring that communities themselves uphold and protect girls’ rights.
This decision is a promise of change: it does not close a path, but opens one. The journey ahead will be long, but what took place in Suswa lights the way toward a future in which every Maasai girl can grow up free, educated, and respected—a future in which each of them can choose and shape her own destiny.
GRT’s contribution
Within this broader process of transformation, GRT plays a central role in Narok County through the AICS-funded project “Women Empowerment, Environment & Health Support,” implemented in partnership with WeWorld.
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We update and co-develop educational materials for adolescents, ensuring access to accurate information on sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence.
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We train social workers, healthcare personnel, community leaders, and judicial institutions on case management, basic counselling, and psychosocial support.
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We support shelters for survivors through mentoring and continuous supervision.
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We strengthen integrated systems of prevention, protection, and response, supporting local staff toward greater autonomy.
Through this approach, GRT contributes to building inclusive, coordinated, and survivor-centered systems, supporting Narok’s institutions and communities in protecting girls’ rights and fostering lasting social change.
Photo credits: WeWorld
