MAASAI MARA UNIVERSITY JOINS NATIONAL ANTI-FGM CAMPAIGN AT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL 2025 CELEBRATIONS IN NAROK

Theme “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead”

In a powerful show of unity, education, and community engagement, Maasai Mara University joined hands with the Narok County Gender Technical Working Group, the Anti-FGM Board of Kenya, the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action, and other key stakeholders to commemorate the International Day of the Girl 2025 at Enkutoto Primary School, Narok South on 9th October 2025.

This year’s celebration was held under the official global theme: “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead”,  a bold call to recognize girls as change-makers in their communities, capable of leading transformative action for their own future and that of others.

The event brought together government officials, university representatives, educators, parents, and hundreds of school children, all united by one mission: to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and promote education for every girl. 

The event was presided over by Her Excellency Agnes Ntutu, the First Lady of Narok County, who delivered an impassioned address calling on the community to reject FGM and early marriage, and instead embrace education as the most powerful tool for girls’ empowerment.

“Let us protect our daughters and invest in their futures. Education will bring prosperity to our homes, not outdated, harmful traditions,” she said.

Also in attendance were the Chairperson of the Anti-FGM Board, Mrs. Ipato Korema Surum, CEO, Mrs. Bernadette Loloju, the Director of Gender for Narok County, Mrs. Agnes Chelangat Ngeno, who represented the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, and Chief Officer for Youth, Gender and Sports, Ms. Pesi Ntari. They urged the community to become active defenders of girls’ rights and emphasized the power of girls to lead change, in line with the theme.

“This year’s theme reminds us that girls are not just victims or beneficiaries, they are leaders. They are the change,” said Ms. Loloju

The Director of Gender for Narok County, who represented the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, reaffirmed the government’s multi-level approach to ending FGM and promoting girl-centered development.

Maasai Mara University was represented by a strong team led by the Director of Gender, Equity, and Culture (GEC), Dr. Kennedy K. Onyiko alongside Mrs. Nadupoi Kishoyian (Gender Officer) and Mrs. Ruth Sipitiek (University Counselor), accompanied by several university students.

Their presence was a source of excitement and inspiration for the Enkutoto Primary School pupils, many of whom expressed the desire to join the University after high school. The arrival of the Maasai Mara Universitybranded bus created a buzz among the students, serving as a powerful symbol of possibility and access to higher education.

“You belong in university. Stay focused, work hard, and don’t let anyone cut short your dreams,” said Mrs. Kishoyian, addressing the pupils who had surrounded the University bus.

On the sidelines of the event, the university team conducted interactive sessions on academic opportunities, empowering the young girls and boys to envision a life beyond early marriage, FGM, or domestic roles. These engagements encouraged students to see themselves not just as future professionals, but as leaders of change in their communities.

The spirit of the theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead,” came alive through a series of vibrant performances from the pupils. Pupils from Enkutoto Primary School recited passionate poems, enacted skits, and staged plays that portrayed the psychological and physical harm caused by FGM, as well as the power of education in reshaping lives.

In one particularly moving performance, a young girl courageously rejected the cut, stood up to her elders, and went on to become a teacher, a shining example of what is possible when girls are allowed to choose their own paths.

These creative expressions didn’t just raise awareness; they gave voice to the girls’ lived realities and aspirations. They embodied the theme, showing that when girls are empowered, they become powerful agents of change.

In line with the event’s message of growth and long-term impact, Maasai Mara University donated 100 tree seedlings to Enkutoto Primary School. Dignitaries, including the First Lady, Mrs. Surum, Mrs. Loloju, Mrs. Chelangat, Ms. Ntari, Dr. Onyiko and local leaders planted these trees, and the rest were handed over to the school for the pupils to plant during Mzingira Day.

“Just like the trees we plant today, our girls will grow stronger, taller, and more impactful if we nurture and protect them,” said Dr. Onyiko, Director, Gender, Equity, and Culture at the University.

The school community will tend the trees as part of a lasting environmental and educational initiative. The act of planting trees symbolized the sustainable empowerment of the girl child, one that goes beyond a single day of celebration.

To crown the celebration, the community came together for a joyful cake-cutting ceremony in honor of the International Day of the Girl. Led by the First Lady, the Anti-FGM Board leadership, the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, Narok County Gender Technical Working Group,  University delegates, and local officials. The ceremony was more than a tradition; it was a statement of hope, recognition, and solidarity with girls across Narok and Kenya.

Students, parents, and community members shared the cake, a symbolic gesture that celebrated the potential of every girl and affirmed the shared responsibility of supporting her journey.

The event at Enkutoto Primary School demonstrated what is possible when governments, universities, community leaders, and students work together for a common cause. But it also served as a reminder: the journey is far from over.

While laws exist to outlaw FGM, changing attitudes and cultural norms requires consistent dialogue, education, and grassroots action. And at the center of this fight are the girls themselves, strong, bold, and ready to lead.

“The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead is more than a slogan,” said Dr. Onyiko. “It’s a declaration. Our girls are stepping up, and it’s our duty to walk beside them.”

As the day came to an end, the message was clear and unwavering: “No girl should suffer the pain of FGM. Every girl deserves education, dignity, and the right to lead.