The plight of women in northern kenya.

When the term women is mentioned in northern kenya. one wonders what it actually means. most women are the most disadvantaged among the pastoralist group especially the pokot. first of all when a girl is born in a family. there is always two reactions. the father will be happy that he will get cows when the girl reaches age 10 through being married away. secondly the same father will be sad since a women, a less strong person in a family has been born since women naturally do not defend the community in times of danger or attack from the other community.
when the girl gets out of age, she meetsso many challenges, one she is married to an old healthy man at the age of ten ofcourse after undergoing female genital mutilation. this girl is not even able to be a mother but she is forcibly married by her parents just to earn cattle.
when the gils gives birth. its a very difficult process since the girl's body can not be able to contain a pregnancy. for the lucky ones they give birth to children, but to the unlucky ones they dont leave to see a better marriage since they die in delivery related complications.
for those who make it, they become more of donkeys in the family since they are the only braed winners. the mens work is just to protect the community, marry many women and wait for the food to be on the table. the woman is the only braedwinner in many families among the pokots.
if a woman does not do want a man wants, she is terribly beaten.
this is the life of the girl child and women particularly in nortern kenya where i come from.

Leah cheruto endoo.