NAROK COUNTY, Kenya – “Female genital mutilation is carried out in secret, and in some villages in Narok County the rate is as high as 99 per cent,” explains Patrick Ngigi, founder of the community-based organization Mission with a Vision.

Although the prevalence of women and girls subjected to female genital mutilation in Kenya  has halved over the past 20 years – from more than 30 per cent in 2002 to 15 per cent in 2022 – every year, thousands of girls still face the threat of the practice. 

Despite a national ban imposed in 2011, it remains common, particularly among rural communities. With support from UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, Mission with a Vision offers a safe space for those fleeing female genital mutilation and other forms of gender-based violence.

“In 1997, I was working as a head teacher when a girl came to me and begged for help so she wouldn’t be married off,” recalled Mr. Ngigi. “I took her to my mother’s house because we didn’t have any rescue centres available, and that is how Mission with a Vision began.” 

From those humble beginnings, the shelter has grown into a haven that can accommodate up to 120 girls across two facilities. 

Stories of resilience

For survivors and girls at risk of female genital mutilation, shelters and safe spaces play a critical role in offering a refuge, hope and new beginnings. Many of the girls who arrive at Mission with a Vision carry deep physical and emotional scars. 

“My family was not happy when I ran away from home because everyone in the community was talking about it, and they felt I had brought them shame,” said Esther Kulet, who fled at 14 to escape being subjected to the practice. Now 22 years old, for the last eight years she has called the shelter home, and staff there also supported her to complete her studies. She’s now working as a qualified veterinary officer.

Another survivor, 23-year-old Maryanne, recalled the despair that once consumed her. “I thought killing myself was the only solution I had,” she told UNFPA. “But when I came here, I found someone who understood me. Working here now, I tell the younger girls not to give up, as there is nothing impossible in this world.”

For the younger girls, even simple moments like sharing a meal, singing, and dancing together become symbols of healing. “At Christmas, we slaughter a goat, cook chapati (flatbread) and cabbage, and dance. It makes us feel at home, and that is the greatest thing,” explained Maryanne.

Over the years, Mission with a Vision has provided refuge to more than 3,200 girls escaping female genital mutilation, child marriage, rape and other forms of gender-based violence. They receive not only safety but also education, vocational training, and counselling. Girls who cannot return to school because of early pregnancies are trained in trades such as tailoring and hairdressing, enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity.

A call for more shelters

Kenya has only a handful of shelters for survivors of female genital mutilation and child marriage, yet the demand is overwhelming. A report by Kenya’s Generation Equality Secretariat in 2022 revealed that the country has 54 private shelters and gender-based violence  rescue centres operational, but they are located in only 18 of the 47 counties. Inadequate funding makes many shelters vulnerable to shutdowns, leaving survivors at greater risk of harm and without necessary services like temporary housing, counselling, and legal support.

“We get many girls coming to the shelter in search of help,” said Mr. Ngigi. “One time, we sent a girl to school, and she came back with 11 girls who wanted our help escaping female genital mutilation. We could not turn them away.”  The centre also receives girls from neighbouring and far-off counties that do not have operational shelters.  

With funding from Norway, UNFPA has supported the Mission with a Vision rescue centre by expanding its skills-based training programme and equipping its quarters with much-needed supplies, such as bedding. This funding has also enabled the centre to carry out awareness raising among communities to shift the harmful gender and social norms that drive the practice. 

Changing communities

The ripple effect of this outreach is undeniable. In one Maasai village, a graduate of Mission with a Vision built her family a home, and elders who once resisted the change began asking the shelter to take in girls in need. 

“You cannot fight culture with a gun, you can only fight it with a mindset shift. When girls succeed, entire communities begin to change,” said Mr. Ngigi. 

The shelter also emphasizes reconciliation with families whenever possible. With careful mediation, many girls are reunited with their parents under safer, more supportive conditions.

“Female genital mutilation is not a good thing. It makes girls believe they are ready for marriage while they are still children,” explained Esther. “The rescue centre gave me the chance to continue my studies. Today, I serve my community as a vet. My dream came true because I was given a safe place.”