Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged the Maa community to promote education of girls alongside that of boys and shun child marriage.

Speaking on Wednesday in Narok West constituency, the Deputy President said practices such as child marriage and failure to enrol girls in school were retrogressive. He told the community that government was committed to wipe out such practices and encourage education for all as one way to empower young people.

“Girls must be given a chance to go to school and be supported to fulfil their dreams,” he said at the launch of the constituency’s strategic plan (2023-27).

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.

Among the top female leaders from the Maa community is Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Soipan Tuya.