More than 200 girls have graduated from the 11th Gaddis Gamme Girls Empowerment Camp in North Horr, Marsabit County, after four days of intensive training focused on health, rights, leadership, and empowerment.
The graduation ceremony was presided over by the First Lady of Marsabit County, alongside Mrs. Bernadette Loloju, the CEO of the Anti-FGM Board.
“With Mrs. Bernadette Loloju, CEO Anti-FGM Board, I presided over the graduation of 200+ girls at the 11th Gaddis Gamme Girls Camp in North Horr after four days of training on health, rights, leadership, and empowerment. Grateful to all who made it possible,” the First Lady said.
The Gaddis Gamme Girls Camp is part of ongoing efforts to protect young girls from harmful cultural practices, particularly female genital mutilation (FGM), while equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to pursue education and leadership roles in their communities.
FGM remains a significant challenge in Kenya, despite being outlawed under the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2011.
Nationally, the prevalence has been declining, with the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey showing 21% of women aged 15–49 had undergone the practice, compared to 27% in 2008.
However, the rates remain considerably higher in certain counties in northern Kenya, including Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, and Samburu, where traditional beliefs continue to fuel the practice.
FGM is internationally recognised as a violation of human rights, often leading to lifelong health complications, psychological trauma, and disruption of girls’ education.
The Kenyan government has pledged to eliminate FGM by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a national directive in 2019 to end the practice, and county governments, in partnership with the Anti-FGM Board, civil society, and community leaders, have been implementing grassroots campaigns, rescue centers, and empowerment camps like Gaddis Gamme.
Through education, mentorship, and public advocacy, these initiatives aim to replace harmful rites of passage with alternative ceremonies that uphold culture without endangering girls’ health and dignity.
The Marsabit County First Lady reaffirmed her commitment to working with stakeholders to empower girls and support government strategies to eradicate FGM.
The success of the North Horr camp, she said, demonstrates the power of collective action in safeguarding the rights and future of young women.