In the town of KILGORIS, Kenya, a group of girls confidently chant, “I am worth defending!” as they prepare to practice self-defense techniques. These girls, who are not part of a martial arts club, reside at a boarding school in Transmara, western Kenya. The school serves as a sanctuary for teenagers who have fled early marriage and female genital mutilation.
“We are taught how to defend ourselves and safeguard our bodies,” explains Grace Musheni, a 14-year-old student at the Enkakenya Centre for Excellence since 2023. Established in 2009 by Kakenya Ntaiya, a Maasai woman who underwent genital cutting herself, the center not only provides a secure environment for at-risk girls but also offers free high school education to incentivize parents to keep their daughters in school rather than subjecting them to the common ritual of cutting for Maasai girls aged 8 to 17.
Once a girl undergoes circumcision, she is deemed an adult and deemed fit for marriage, abruptly ending her childhood and educational journey. Musheni elaborates, “Poverty in families often drives child marriages. Parents might consent to their daughter marrying an older man in exchange for financial gain.”
While Ntaiya was unable to evade genital mutilation, she persuaded her father to allow her to pursue her education. Today, she holds a Ph.D. in education from the University of Pittsburgh and has garnered numerous accolades for her advocacy work. “I am a product of education and I am committed to empowering women and girls in my community,” she asserts.
Despite laws in Kenya prohibiting genital mutilation and marriages under the age of 18, these practices persist, particularly in rural regions with low education rates. The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey revealed that 56.3% of uneducated women had experienced genital mutilation, in contrast to 5.9% of women with secondary school education. Education appears to influence gender-based violence, with 34% of Kenyan women reporting physical abuse, a figure that drops to 23% among educated women.
To combat these challenges, the Enkakenya Centre collaborates with I’m Worth Defending to teach self-defense skills. The training empowers girls not only to physically defend themselves but also to assert themselves in various aspects of their lives. “We equip them with assertiveness and boundary-setting techniques, both verbally and physically,” explains Amelia Awuor from I’m Worth Defending. “These skills instill confidence to address violations and ward off threats.”
The training has empowered 14-year-old Rahab Lepishoi to advocate for other girls. When she learned that girls in her village were at risk of circumcision, including a childhood friend, she intervened by educating them about the dangers of female genital mutilation. Inspired by her mentors, Rahab is now actively spreading awareness about
Lepishoi, who believes in empowering her friends with self-defense skills and confidence, aims to help them be assertive in their interactions with boys. The self-defense classes not only empower individuals but also provide protection against sexual abuse, a prevalent issue leading to forced marriages in some communities.
Purity Risanoi, a 15-year-old student at the school, faces traditional expectations in her community where girls are often forced into marriage without their consent. Despite these challenges, Purity is determined to continue her education, aspiring to become a lawyer in the future.
Another student, Musheni, dreams of a career as a software engineer and aims to use technology to uplift her community upon returning. She strongly believes that girls have the potential to achieve great things and hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams.
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