Early Marriage Victim Turns Into a Women Rights Defender By Silvano Assanga Ateka
“I have committed myself to fighting for the rights of women and girls in my community.” - Agnes Kongu
Agnes Kongu, 45 years of age was only 12 when she was married off to an old man in Narok County under the traditional Maasai culture. Her dreams for a brighter future seemed to have been shattered. Agnes desired to pursue education but all that the entrenched culture of early marriages in her community offered at puberty was an old man for a husband.
After forced marriage, Agnes unsuccessfully tried to escape from the marriage. The desire to attain formal education did not wane. She still yearned to go back to school and excel but her fate was sealed. Miraculously though, a community activist tried to rescue her and took to the police station for assistance. These efforts were an exercise in futility as police officer was not well conversant with gender based violence issues. Free at last Fit for Marriage She later managed to get away – but at a cost. The comThis made it easy for her parents and munity regarded her as an outcast. However, Agnes cansome community elders to find her. They not hide her joy. ensured that she was taken through female genital mutilation and returned Now 45 and a successful health worker, she is assisting other girls from her Maasai community to overcome her to her marital home. challenges facing them which include female genital muAgnes tried to resist it. She told them tilation and early marriages. about her desire to pursue education but her words fell on deaf ears. To them, Lack of education has not limited her desire for success: she was far too ripe for marriage and “If I was educated I would be very far today,” she says. needed to undergo the rite to make her “But since I did not get that opportunity I have committed myself to fighting for the rights of women and girls in fit in her marital home. my community.”