Matonyok CBO in Karare, Marsabit, Rescues Girls from FGM and Early Marriage as Cases Persist
Photo: Emma Fausia.
By Robert Mutasi
In Karare, a pastoral village on the outskirts of Marsabit town, Matonyok Community Organization is leading a quiet but critical fight to protect girls from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early child marriage and Gender-Based Violence.
The community-based organization says harmful cultural practices, poverty and stigma continue to threaten the future of young girls and the well-being of families in the area.
Matonyok social worker Emma Fausia says the organization intervenes daily to rescue girls and support vulnerable families.
“My name is Emma Fausia. I’m a social worker and a member at Matonyok Community based organization. We work hard everyday to protect families and change lives in our community,” she said.
“Our people face deep struggles, female genital mutilation and early child marriages seal the future of our young girls. Gender based violence breaks homes and heart safety. At the same time people living with HIV face severe stigma and need steady medical care and food support.”
In Karare and surrounding villages in Marsabit County, Matonyok says girls as young as 12 are still being cut and married off to older men for dowry, ending their education and exposing them to serious health risks. Domestic violence remains widespread, with many cases going unreported.
Fausia says Matonyok does not just raise awareness — it takes action.
“We do not just watch, we step in, we rescue girls from early marriage and FGM. We teach families about human rights. We run safe spaces for GBV survivors. We also counsel people with HIV, help them take their medicine and fight the shame attached to the virus,” she said.
The organization runs a safe shelter in Karare where rescued girls receive counseling and support to return to school. It also conducts house-to-house education on human rights, engages elders and morans, and offers psychosocial support to survivors of GBV.
For people living with HIV, Matonyok provides counseling, treatment adherence support and food assistance, while linking them to health facilities.
Recently, the CBO rescued two minors who were set to be married off in villages around Karare. The girls are now under its care awaiting school reintegration.
However, Fausia says limited funding, poor roads and vast distances are major challenges.
“We cannot do this alone. We call on the government and our NGO partners to stand with us. We need funds, training resources and operational support to expand our reach,” she appealed.
“Partner with Matonyok CBO today to help us save our girls, protect the vulnerable and give dignity to every person living with HIV.”
Marsabit is listed among counties with high prevalence of FGM and child marriage in Kenya, making the work of grassroots organizations like Matonyok in Karare critical in protecting at-risk girls.
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