Where Dreams Defeat Tradition: How Kakenya's Dream is Rescuing Girls from FGM and Child Marriage

For generations, countless girls across Narok County have watched their dreams disappear long before they had the opportunity to pursue them.

While many aspired to become doctors, teachers, pilots, lawyers, engineers, journalists and leaders, harmful cultural practices, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriage, gender-based violence (GBV) and teenage pregnancy have continued to rob them of their childhood, education and future.

FGM and Child Marriage Still Threaten Girls Across Narok

A field investigation conducted across Transmara West, parts of Transmara South of Kilgoris Constituency, Transmara East in Emurua Dikirr Constituency and the neighbouring Kenyenya Sub-County in Kisii County reveals that many girls in these regions remain at high risk.

In some villages, girls as young as 12 to 15 years are still subjected to FGM before being forced into marriage, effectively ending their education and exposing them to lifelong health, economic and psychological consequences.

Despite years of government campaigns spearheaded by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, local leaders and law enforcement agencies, the deeply rooted cultural practices continue to thrive in some communities, often conducted in secrecy.

A Safe Haven in the Hills of Isampin

Yet amid the challenges, a remarkable story of hope is unfolding in the rolling hills of Isampin, Keiyan Ward, about 17 kilometres from Kilgoris Town along the Kilgoris–Awendo road.

Here stands Kakenya's Dream, a sanctuary where vulnerable girls find protection, education, healing and a second chance at life.

The name "Kakenya", traditionally given to a girl born in the morning, symbolises the beginning of a bright day filled with hope and limitless possibilities.

That symbolism comes alive every sunrise at the peaceful Kakenya's Dream campus, where hundreds of girls wake up not to prepare for forced marriages or traditional rites, but to prepare for school and pursue careers they once thought impossible.

The Vision Behind Kakenya's Dream

Founded in 2009 by Dr Kakenya Ntaiya, Kakenya's Dream has grown into one of Kenya's leading girl-centred organisations dedicated to ending harmful cultural practices while empowering girls through education, health services and community transformation.

Its philosophy is simple but powerful: educate a girl, transform communities.

Education as the Foundation for Lasting Change

Today, the organisation runs girls' schools.

Kakenya Centre for Excellence I, located in Enoosaen Village, serves learners from Grade Four to Grade Nine, while Kakenya Centre for Excellence II, situated at Isampin, accommodates girls from Grade Seven to Grade Twelve.

Beyond its own schools, the organisation continues to invest in girls through its Education Access Programme, which currently supports many girls studying in various learning institutions.

Its commitment extends even further through the Economic Empowerment Programme, enabling young women to pursue tertiary education and build sustainable livelihoods.

For many beneficiaries, education has become more than acquiring knowledge; it has become a pathway to freedom.

"Every girl deserves the opportunity to dream without fear," says Rhoda Noomali, "When we protect a girl from FGM or child marriage, we are not just saving one life. We are creating a future teacher, doctor, engineer, entrepreneur or leader who will transform generations," 

Rhoda Noomali is the Program Manager for Adolescent Health, Life Skills and Community Engagement program.

Protecting Girls Through Accessible Healthcare

Recognising that education alone cannot solve every challenge facing girls, Kakenya's Dream has invested heavily in healthcare.

Its Kakenya Health and Wellness Centre, led by Cliff Ondieki, provides comprehensive health services to the surrounding community and offers free healthcare to all children and young people under 20.

"Health and education go hand in hand," says Cliff Ondieki.

The youth-friendly facility has become a safe space where adolescents receive reproductive health education, counselling, mental health support and preventive healthcare without fear of stigma.

"A healthy girl is more likely to remain in school, excel academically and make informed decisions about her future. Our goal is to remove every barrier that prevents girls from achieving their full potential," Cliff added.

Through its Adolescent Health, Life Skills and Community Engagement Programme, Kakenya's Dream works directly with parents, elders, religious leaders, teachers and youth to challenge harmful cultural norms.

The Linda Dada Campaign: Challenging Harmful Traditions

Its flagship Linda Dada Campaign has become a powerful community movement advocating for the protection of girls and promoting education as the alternative to harmful traditions.

Community dialogues, school forums and village meetings are helping reshape attitudes that have existed for generations.

Families that once viewed FGM and child marriage as cultural obligations are increasingly choosing education instead.

"Ending harmful practices cannot be achieved by rescuing girls alone," Rhoda explains "Communities must be part of the solution. That is why we engage fathers, mothers, elders and even young boys. Sustainable change begins when society changes its mindset," 

Lives Transformed Through Education and Opportunity

The impact is becoming visible across Narok and neighbouring counties.

More girls are staying in school.

Cases of child marriage are being reported earlier.

Parents are increasingly seeking guidance instead of arranging early marriages. Former beneficiaries are returning as professionals, mentors and role models, inspiring a new generation to dream even bigger. Each graduate represents a victory against traditions that once denied girls the right to determine their own future.

The Challenges That Still Remain

Yet the journey is far from over.

Many girls remain hidden in remote villages where poverty, limited access to education and entrenched cultural beliefs continue to expose them to abuse.

Development partners say sustained investment in education, community awareness and survivor support remain essential if Kenya is to eliminate FGM and child marriage entirely.

A Future Where Every Girl Can Dream, Learn and Lead

For every girl who walks through the gates of Kakenya's Dream, however, the future looks remarkably different.

Instead of preparing for marriage before adolescence ends, she prepares for examinations. Instead of surrendering her ambitions, she discovers her voice. Instead of becoming another statistic, she becomes a symbol of resilience.

And every morning, as the first rays of sunlight illuminate the hills of Isampin, the meaning behind the name Kakenya comes to life once again, not merely as a girl's name, but as a promise that every child deserves the chance to dream, to learn and to lead.

In communities where hope was once fading, Kakenya's Dream continues to prove that protecting one girl can transform an entire generation.

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