Samburu east: More than 300 girls from Wamba in Samburu East Sub-County have transitioned to womanhood through an Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) that excludes the physical cutting associated with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), in efforts to end the harmful practice.
According to Kenya News Agency, the graduation ceremony for 96 girls from the ARP programme was held at Ntepes Primary School. Ramat Empowerment Initiative Executive Director Josephine Naramat highlighted that the initiative celebrates the transition to womanhood through education and mentorship without subjecting the girls to FGM. Naramat emphasized that the programme does not aim to undermine Samburu culture but seeks to eliminate the harmful aspect of FGM, traditionally used to mark the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Naramat expressed gratitude to the Samburu elders for their support of the alternative rite, which has been crucial to the programme’s success. She recalled the initial challenge from the community to provide an alternative to FGM, leading to the introduction of ARP with the backing of the community.
Girls aged between 12 and 15 years attend mentorship camps where they learn about education, life skills, sexual and reproductive health, their legal rights, and ways to avoid early marriage. Upon completing the programme, the girls receive certificates, and traditional elders and community leaders participate in a cultural prayer ceremony, blessing them with milk.
Twelve-year-old Pascalina Namaiya shared that ARP is preferable to FGM as it equips girls with life skills and allows them to continue their education, unlike the traditional practice, which often leads to early marriage. Namaiya expressed her intention to become an anti-FGM champion in her community, advocating against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and educating her peers.
The ARP programme, initiated in 2025, has seen 306 girls graduate, with graduation ceremonies conducted two or three times a year. Community leaders at the ceremony acknowledged the crucial role of elders’ support in changing attitudes and encouraging more families to opt for the alternative path for their daughters.
