Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged the Maa community to promote education for the girl along side that of the boy and shun child marriage.
Speaking Wednesday in Narok West constituency, the Deputy President said practices such as child marriage and failure to enroll girls in school were retrogressive and that Government was committed to wipe them out to encourage education for all and empower young people.
“Girls must be given a chance to go to school and be supported to fulfill their dreams,” he said at the launch of the constituency’s Strategic Plan (2023-2027).
He added: “The Maa community has to drop the practice of early marriages as it is overtaken by time. Let us invest in education so that girls can be independent in future and helpful to the community. Girls should be in school.”
The Deputy President also presided over the commissioning of 38 mobile laboratories for Junior Secondary Schools and the official opening of Kishermoruak Boys Secondary School.
The Deputy President directed National Government Administration Officers led by the county commissioner and chiefs to ensure unlawful and retrogressive practices are wiped out, noting that child marriage is a violation of children’s rights.
“Let us put more investment in education and shun bad cultural practices. The County Commissioner and chiefs should monitor and enforce laws which protect children’s rights. We must end child marriage and ensure all girls are in school,” said Mr Gachagua.
Among the top female leaders from the Maa community is Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Soipan Tuya.
The Deputy President, praised CS Tuya, a lawyer, as a mentor and inspiration to young girls in the community.
He said she had performed well and earned the country respect in addressing climate change, especially after the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi last month.
Gachagua lauded the Cabinet Secretary as a demonstration that women have equal space for leadership.
He commended the Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo for the Strategic Plan, saying it is a people-centered approach to development.
The Strategic Plan prioritizes education initiatives, road infrastructure, security, among others.
He said the mobile laboratories will plug in the deficit in infrastructure as the government rolls out the competency based curriculum.
He encouraged the Narok County leaders to continue working in unity for development.
The Deputy President was accompanied by a host of leaders led by Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, host MP Gabriel Ole Tong’oyo, Member of East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) David Ole Sankok.
MPs Gitonga Mukunji (Manyatta), Benjamin Gathiru alias Mejja Donk (Embakasi), Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), Francis Sigei (Sotik) and Daniel Wanyama (Webuye West).
Others present were members of Narok County Assembly led by Majority Leader Dominic Sonkoi Lemein.
The leaders praised President William Ruto and DP Gachagua over their bid to unite the country and initiating development in all regions.
